
REFORMED CHURCH, GREENWICH, N. Y, 



rt I S T O R, IT 



OF THE 



TOWN OF GREENWICH, 



FKOM THE 



EARLIEST SETTLEMENT, 



TO THE 



Centennial Anniversary of our National Independence : including also, an 

Oration delivered by Hon. D. A. Boies, at G-reenwich, 

N. Y., July 4tli, 1876. 



COMPILED BY ELISHA P. THURSTON. 



8ALEM, N. y 

n. D. MORRIS, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER, 

1876. 



>', u-*" ^''' ^-^'/v , , 



^ 






Eutfred according to A<'t of C'oiigresH, in thf year 1S77, 
EV ELTSHA P. THURSTOX, 
:lie Clerk's OiVn-e of tlie District Court of tlie Northern District of Neir 
York. 



INTRODUCTION 



1 



In presenting this little work to the people of Greenwich 
and vicinity, the author has only to say, that in the collation 
of facts concernino- the earlier events of the locality now 
claiming the name of the " Town of Greenwich," he has been 
obliged to throw out much which has been handed down as 
truth and has given tradition only where it seemed m absolute 
conformity with established facts. To ascertain the measure 
of credence which may properly be given to the legendary 
history of a town, requires much time and research, combined 
with judicial discrimination. The author in compiling this 
pamphlet, has labored faithfully to eliminate the errors which 
have grown into the unwritten history of the town, and to 
which many cling tenaciously. He has given, as far as he has 
been able to obtain them, all important matters connected 
with the town's history, of which authentic records have been 
kept, as fully as the plan of his work permitted. There are 
some things, in regard to which competent authorities differ. 
In such instances, the views of both parties are given in 
these pages, with such comments and estimates of conflicting 
probabilities as have presented themselves to the best judg- 
ment of tlie author. For many of the facts that make up this 



IV. 

sketch, he feels himself under obligations to several residents of 
this and adjoining towns. Particularly he desires to express 
his heartfelt thanks to Rev. J. O. Mason, of Greenwich, and 
Asa Fitch, M. D., of Salem, from whom much valuable infor- 
mation has been obtained. 

Conscious that the scope of this work renders impossible 
the elaboration of many matters of which the details might be 
interesting, the author yet feels confident that his first historical 
efi'ort will not prove valueless to the community for which 
it was prepared. 

Greenwich, N. Y., August 20, 1876. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 



CHAP. I. 

Description of the Town— The Saratoga Patent— Early Seitlenunts 
by the Dutch— The Log Fort— Its destruction— Retirement of the 
Dutch Settlers to Albany during the French and Indian War- 
Other Patents fro7n which the town was formed. 

The town of Greenwich is situated in the southern half of 
the county of Washington, with the Hudson River as its 
Western boundary, the Battenkill forming its line of division 
from Easton and Jackson on the South, while it adjoins Salem 
on the East and Argyle and Fort Edward on the North, to 
complete its boundary^lines. The town is about twelve miles 
in .length from east to west, with an average width of five 
miles and contains about 26,000 acres of excellent land, which is 
somewhat rolling in its topographical aspects, but forms, 
nevertheless, one of the most beautiful, as well as the most fer- 
tile localities in tills section of New York state. A prominent 
feature in the topography of the locality is Bald Mountain, sit- 
uated in the northern portion of the town. This mountain 
has an emmence of 912 feet above tide-w^ater, is a mile or more 
in length, and is made up of a superior quality of blue lime- 
stone. It forms one of a range of hills running north through 
the county into Hampton and thence to Vermont. Eminent 
geologists have studied the rocks composing this mountain, but 



6 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

are as yet scarcely agreed as to wliat strata its formation he- 
longs, as it presents many peculiarities not elsewere observa- 
l)le ; and this elevation has become, accordinir to Dr. Fttch, 
(from Avhose published writini^s these particulars are gleaned), 
"Classic ground to the votaries of science." This mountain 
is the most considerable elevation in the town, although some 
of the minor acclivities stand out with picturesque boldness. 
The Battenkill river, which as before slated, constitutes a jior- 
tion of the town boundaries, forms a feature, of its landscape, 
in its romantic windings, that conlribuies not a little to the 
beaut}^ and attractiveness of the locality. The stream has its rise 
in Dorset, Vermont, and after a course of 20 miles enters tiiis 
state, through which it runs 24 miles to its month. In the 
town of Greenwich, it passes through East Greenwich, Batten- 
ville, Center Falls, Greenwich, Middle Falls (Galesville), and 
thence to Clark's Mills, where it unites with the Hudson. At 
these different points it has been the motive power of tlie bus- 
iness industries of the town. At Center Falls it has a natural 
fall of 17 feet, at Middle Falls one of about 40 feet and half a 
mile farther down, at " Big Falls," it has an abrupt descent of 
70 feet. The last are called " The falls of the Dionondehowa," 
from the Iroquois name for the Battenkill. These falls attract 
much attention from visitors from abroad ; the overhanging 
trees, jagged rocks and bounding waters uniting to make tiie 
scenery wild and thrilling. Another point of attraction is the 
beautiful lake known as "Cossaj^ina," or to give the translation 
furnished to Dr. Fitch by the Indians, "The lake at our 
Pines," a name appropriate to the place in early times. It 
issituated on the northern border of the town of Greenwich, 
lying partly in Argyle and is a pretty sheet of water, highly 
esteemed by residents of the vicinity as a fishing-ground. 
The island at its center is the picnic-grove for adjacent towns. 
Its outlet, " Cossayuna Creek," \vhich empties into the Batten- 
kill near the present residence of Clark VVoodakd, was in its 
course, followed by the Massachusetts Indians in their annual 
hunting excursions through this section, long before the axe 
and rifle of the white man had disturbed the wilderness echoes 
The fertility of the lands in this region and the superior 
mill privileges easily and cheaply attainable, early attracted 
the attention of enterprising men, Jind patents were issued in 



HISTORY OF GREENAVICH. / 

a lavish manner, by the provincial government of the colony 
of New' York, always on payment of fees which showed these 
officials to have been no unworthy progenitors of high officials 
in tlte stale at the present day. The lirst patent issued which 
covere«l any portion of the present town ot Greenwich, is that 
known as the Saratoga Patent, which was granted November 
4tli, 1(184, under the provincial administration of Thomas 
Dongan. The grantees were Cornelius Vandyke, John John- 
son Bleeker, Peter Philip Schuyler (a great-uncle of Gen Philip 
Scliuyler of Revolutionary fame), Johannes^ Wendell, Dirck 
VVessells, David Schuyler and Robert Livinuston Vandyke 
sohl a portion of his share (that east of the Hudson river), to 
William Ivettlehuyn and Ivillyan DeRidder in 108."). The pat- 
ent covered two towns on the west side of the Hudson river, 
and the town of Easton and a portion of the town of Green- 
wich, on the east side of that river. " The original grant." 
says Dr. Frrcii, " does not appear to have been recorded. The 
proprietors subsequently applied for and Oct. 9th, 1708, ob- 
tained a renewal of it, in which that portion of the patent 
falling within tliis county, is described as follows •, ' And from 
the Last Terminacion by a Straight Line to be drawn East, to 
the North side of the Mouth of Cieek Dionondehowe (Batten- 
kill), and from thence continued East Six Miles into the Woods 
on tlie East Side of Hudson's River and from thence by a Line 
Southerly Parallel to the course of said Hudson's River and 
Six Miles Distant from the same soe farr Southerly until it 
come Opposite to and bear Six Miles Distant from the North 
Side of the Mouth of Schaachook Kill (Hoosic river) which is 
t lie Bounds of Schaachook Patent Late belonging to Henry 
Van Rensselaer.' (Patents, Vol. 7, p. 375-379) * * * The 
north east corner of the patent being in the town of Greenwich 
nearly two miles north of Center Falls." At the time of the 
re-issue of the patent, its ownership had changed somewhat, 
the share of Vandyke being owned by his grandson Cornelius ; 
David Schuyler's share by Peter and Robert Schuyler ; while 
Johannes Schuyler owned the share of Johannes Wendell. 

It is probable that scattering settlements were made along 
the banks of the Battenkill, almost immediately after this, by 
Dutch families from the vicinity of Albany, as we note that in 
1709 a military road was built to Whitehall, via Fort Edward, 



8 lIISTOliY OF (iUEKXWiCir. 

from the north side of the Btittenkill. In 1731 a stockade and 
log fort was built on the summit of one of the river hills op- 
posite Schulcrville, about one mile south of the present road 
learling from that village to Galesville, on the Easton side 
of the Battenkill, for the protection of settlers residing near 
that stream. The colony did not extend far, as Indian incur- 
sions kept the settlers in a state of almost constant alarm, and, 
as will be seen, finally compelled their withdrawal from the 
neighborhood. 

4.S collateral evidence going to show that considerable settle- 
ments were made on the Battenkill at this earl}' period, and 
detailing also the occurrences that led to their abandonment, 
we quote the following from an historical sketch of "Old 
Saratoga," recently prepared by Gen. E. F. Bullard. After 
referring to the construction of the military road, he says : 

" As the (Hudson) river was navigable from Stillwater rapi<ls 
north to the Battenkill, about 13 miles, most of the travel here 
was by water, and as the landing for the north to connect with 
the new road was on the east side of the river, it is evi- 
dent that the village (Schuylerville or old Saratoga) in the ear'y 
part of the kist century, was partly on that side of the river. 
The fort at Crown Point was erected in 1731 b}' the French, 
and soon after the English built a fort at ' Saratoga.' The lat- 
ter was located on the second higjdand south of the mouth of 
the Battenkill in what was tlix?n -Saratoga, but now in 
the county of Washington, and was upon the farm now 
owned by Simon Sheldon, whose ancestors have occupied the 
same about a century. In November, 1745, about thirty two 
years before Burgoyne's surrender, the village then called Sar- 
atoga was destroyed by the French and Indians. In Lossing's 
history of the Schuyler family, he make-^ the date November 
28, but in Stone's historj^ of the life and times of Sir William 
Johnson, he puts the date at November 17, and the latter 
would seem tlie more reliable date, as the massacre was the 
cause of an angry dispute between George Clinton, then Goy- 
ernor, and the colonial assembly then in session in New York, 
and the records of that assembly show that it adjourned No- 
vember 28 At that period it is evident that this was the ex- 
treme outpost of the English on this frontier. The village 
Consisted of about thirty families and over one hundrcMl per- 



]TT.^TORY OF GKEENWICTT. 9 

sons, niaii}^ of wliom were slaves. As the fort was then on the 
east side of the river, there can be no reasonable doubt that 
the main part of the village was yot on the same side of the 
river, although the Schuyler residence and some of the mills, 
were on the west side. This attack was made by the Indians 
and French at the dead hour of night, without warning, and 
many persons killed and 109 captured and taken to Canada. 
The fort* was destroyed ; every house burned, and every build- 
ing except one saw mill which was* not discovered. We have 
not been able to locate that mill, but judge from circumstances 
it must have been on the Battenkill, about half a mile up 
stream and east of the Hudson river where the Clark's Mills 
now stand. Capt. Schuyler was killed in his own house while 
bravely defending himself, as were many others. Capt. Pe- 
ter Schuyler was an uncle of Gen. Philip Schuyler, who-ie 
buildings were burned by Burgo^^ne 32 years later. In 174G 
the fort on the east side of the river was rebuilt by order of 
the legislature, and was mainly constructed of logs and timber, 
on the heights overlooking the river, and it was then named 
Fort Clinton in honor of the governor. This fort should not 
be confounded with the intretichments, thrown up in 1777, 
further soutii, and opposite Schuylerville which the Americans 
made to cut off the retreat of Burgoyne. In 1747, the war on 

*DocTOB Fitch, fixes the date of this massacre at November 16, which is 
undoubtedly correct, as in a despatch sent to England by Governor Clin- 
ton, November 30, 1745, the following statement appears : " I received an 
account on the 19th inst., by express from Albany, that a party of French 
and their Indians had cut off a settlement In this Province, called Saragh- 
toge, about fifty miles from Albany, and that about twenty houses 
with a Fort (which the publick would not repair), were burned to ashes, 
thirty persons killed and scalped, and about sixty taken prisoners." 
It is improbable that Governor Clinton could have received the above de- 
spatch in New York, within two days after the massacre, from a distance 
of two hundred miles. We nmst, therefore fix the date as November 16th. 
Kalm, the Swedish naturalist who passed through this region about four 
years after the occurrence, gives an account which differs in some respects 
from that given V)y Gen. Bull.^kd, and may be considered entirely authen- 
tic, He says : " A party of French, with their Indians, concealed them- 
selves by night in a thicket near the fort. In the morning, some of their 
Indians, as they had previously resolved, went to have a nearer view of 
the fort. The English fired upon them as soon as they saw them at a dis- 
tance; the Indians pretended to be wounded, fell down, got up again, ran 
a little way and dropped again. About half the garrison rushed out to 
take t*iem prisoners, but as soon a.« they were come up with them the 
French and the remaining Indians came out of the bushes betwixt the for- 
tress and the English, surrounded them and took them prisoners. Those 
who remained in the fort had hardly time to shut the gates, nor could they 
fire upon the enemy, because they equally exposed their countrymen to 
danger, and they were vexed to see their enemies take and carry them off 
in their sight and under their cannon." 



10 TTISTOr.Y OF GP.EENWirTT. 

this frontier continued. At one time Col. Peter Schuyler oc- 
cupied this fort, with New Jersey troops. The inhabitants 
were in continual alarm. Sir VVilliam Johnson came up from 
Albany with an army, and passed this point, but did not meet 
any large force of the enemy and returned. As soon as any 
large force was withdrawn, the defenceless inhabitants would 
again be left exposed to the tomakawk. In the feeble state of the 
colony, the authorities concluded that fall, to abandon the 
post, and the stores and amunition were* then transported back 
to Albany and the fort burned, December 1, 1747. From that 
time forward, for some years, tliis whole country was aban- 
doned to the French and Indians, and Albany was the northern 
English outpost." 

In 1732, or about the date of the erection of this fort, Wil- 
liaui Kettlehuyn, a merchant of Albany, before mentioned as 
a purchaser of a portion of Vandyke's interest in the Saratoga 
Patent, in connection with Cornelius Cuyler, yeoman, 
also of Albany, applied for a grant of land adjoining that 
patent, claiming to have purchased it the preceding year of tiie 
Indians. May 6th, 1732, a patent was issued, 850 acres being 
given to Kettlehuyn, and 750 acres to Cuyler, the lands being 
situated near the Hudson and at only a moderate distance from 
the fort. It seems probable that settlements were made here, 
but abandoned on the destruction of the fort. No permanent 
utilization of these lands was thereafter attempted until the 
close of the French and Indian wars in 1763. 

January 5th, 1763, Donald, George and James Campbell, 
three brothers, sons of Capt. Laughlin Campl)ell, petitioned for 
a grant of 100,000 acres of land, " to be elected in one tract, 
on or near the Wood Creek, between the falls of that Creek on 
the north and Battenkill on the South, a line twenty miles 
from Hudson's river on the east, and that river on the east 
side of Lake George and a south line thence to Hudson's riyer 
on the west." Of course this w^as considered by the Commis- 
sioners, an exorbitant demand ; but November 11th, of that 
year, a patent of 10,000 acres in the present town of Green- 
wich, just north of the Saratoga Patent, was issued to tlie 
Campbell brothers, their three sisters. Rose Graham, Margaret 
Eustace and Lilly Murray and four others : Allan Campbell, 
John Campbell, Sr. James Calder and John Campbell, Jr. Dr. 



HISTORY OF GREEXAVTCn. 11 

Fitch states that at the commencement and during the Revo- 
lutionary war, the patent was sparsely settled by a few Dutch 
families, and that the land so far as is known, was owned b)'- 
tlie eldest of the three brothers, Gen. Donald Campbell, who 
espoused the patriot cause, while the other brothers were 
tories. Afftr the war, all traces of the family disappeared. 

It may not be out of place hereto note the fact, that twenty- 
six years before this grant to his sons, the father. Captain 
Laughlin Campbell, induced by the proclamation of the gov- 
ernor of the province of New York, offering liberal terms to 
settlers, visited this county and was very much pleased with 
the location. Lieut. Gov. Clark, then. acting governor of the 
province, urged Captain Campbell to found a colony here, 
promising him a grant of 30,000 acres of land, free from all 
charges except those of the survey and the king's quit-rent. 
Inspirited by these fine promises, he sold his estates on the 
island of Isla and immigrated to this country with eighty-three 
Scotch families (423 adults and many children), whose expenses 
he defrayed. A portion of them came with him in 1738, and 
others at different times up to 1740. Imagine the disappoint- 
ment and chagrin of Captain Campbell, when the Governor 
and Surve3^or-General of the province refused to make the 
grant without the large fees, which, in his case, they had prom- 
ised not to exact. Captain Campbell would not submit to this 
extortion, and applied to the legislative assembly tor redress, 
but unsuccessfully, as he steadfastly refused to share the prom- 
ised grant with the avaricious officers of the province. Pur- 
suing till! matter with spirit, he memorialized the Board of 
Trade in England, but his means became exhausted before a 
satisfactory result could be arrived at, and he settled upon a 
small farm, where he resided (except while serving under the 
Duke of Cumberland during the rebellion in Scotland in 1745) 
the remainder of his life, 'i'lie g^^nting of the Campbell Pat- 
ent in Greenwich to his sons, was therefore, only an act of tar- 
dy justice to the family of the sturdy and upright Scotchman. 
The success of his sons, encouraged some of the poor men 
who came with iiim to the locality, to petition also for a grant 
of land, and March 2d, 1764, Alexander McNachten (Mc. 
Naughton), with one hundred and six others of the original 
C'anipell immigrants, petitioned for 1,000 acres to be granted to 



12 HISTORY OF GREEN Wiril. 

each of them " to be hiid out in a single tract between the 
head of South bay and Kingsbury, and reaching east towards 
New Hampshire and westwardly to the mountains in Warren 
county. The committee of the Council to whom tiiis petition 
was referred, reported May 21st, recommending that 47,450 
acres should be granted to them, between the Olfct already 
granted to Schuyler and otliers (Fort Edward), and the tract 
proposed to be granted to Turnw and others (Salem). The 
grant was made out in conformity with the recommenda- 
tion of the council, and specifies the amount of land that 
each individual of the petitioners is- to receive, two hun 
dred acres being the least and six hundred acres being the 
most that any individual obtains. It also appoints five men as 
trustees, to divide and distribute the lands as directed. By 
the same instrument, the tract was incorporated as a township, 
to be named Argyle, and to have a supervisor, treasurer, col- 
lector, two assessors, two overseers of highways, two overseers 
of the poor and six constables, to be elected annually by the 
inhabitants on the first day of May." Dr Fitch, further says, 
*' It is commonly reported and iscurrently believed to this day, 
that this town was granted directly from the king. This is er- 
roneous. The charter emanated from the same source with, 
and is in all respects similar to the charters of the adjoining 
towns." This grant included a large portion of what is now 
the northern half of the town of Greenwich. 

The patents thus briefly described as making up tlie area of 
the town, were, with the exception of Saratoga, subject to the 
following conditions under which, at that period, all public- 
lands w^ere granted, viz: "An annual quit rent of two shil- 
lings and sixpence Stirling was imposed on every one hundred 
acres, and all mines of gold and silver, and all pine trees suit- 
able for masts for the royal navy, namely all which were 
twenty-four inches or more iia diameter twelve inches from the 
ground, w^ere reserved to the crown." 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 13 



CHAP. II. 

The Settlement of the Town — The Argyle or ''Scotch'" Patent first 
settled —The Pioneer — The First House— Other Early Settlers — 
First Civil Process— Archibald Campbell First— Settlement of the 
Tefft Family in the Saratoga Patent— The First Saw-Mill— Rhode 
Island Families— Incidents — The First GriM- Mill— The First 
Public Burying- Ground. 



The close ot the French and Indian war, rendered the settle- 
ment of hinds adjoining the Northern Hudson, both practicable 
and safe. Sh)wly but surely, the tide of immigration set this 
way, not only from the old world, but from the more populous 
colonies of the new. The forests, that for ages had sheltered 
the earth from the sun's rays, began to fall before the woods- 
man's axe, and to give place to the needs of a developing civ- 
ilization. The streams that had flowed for centuries, rippled 
only by the plunge of the water-fowl, or the bark canoe of the 
savage, began, in their restricted and perverted courses, to be 
the propelling force of unending industries. The land, en- 
riched in the lapse of time, by the decay of its spontaneous 
products, responded with generous crops to artificial culture, 
and a few short years saw the locality peopled with a race of 
strong and sturdy men. 

The first man known to have attempted a permanent settle- 
ment in the town, was one Rogers, a kind of desperado, who 
built on the flats of the Battenkill, above the moutli of Cossa 
yuna creek, as early as 1703 or 1704 (the exact time of his com- 
ing is not known), and lived there for some time. Alexander 
McNachten (McNaughton), Archibald Livingston, Duncan 
(-ampbell, and Roger Jiced, settled near the Battenkill as allot- 



14 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

tees of the Argyle patent in the spring of 17G5, and found him 
living there and churning title from Col. i^ydius, tn a tract of 
land running east from Cossayuna creek to the vicinity of the 
stream now known as Black creek. He warned them not to 
trespass on his claim, making various threats as to wliat he 
would do. These men knew, however, that they had perfect 
titles and went on industriously with the work of clearing their 
lands and building their houses, regardless of his threats. One 
day, when Livingston was away, his wife was forciblj'" carried 
oft and set down outside of the limits of the claim, by Rog- 
ers, who then proceeded to remove the furniture from the 
premises. For this act, he was subsequently arrested b}^ Reed, 
who was a constable of the old township of Argyle, assisted 
by Joseph McCracken from Salem. The arrest was made un- 
der a warrant from Esq. McNachten, who had been appointed 
a Justice of the Peace, and was the first civil process ever 
served in this county. It was, of course, to be expected, 
that a man of the reckless character of Rogers, would resist 
the officers, and the result justified the expectation. Rogers 
. tried to defend himself with his gun, which McCracken seized. 
In his endeavors to wrest it from the hands of the ruffian, he 
burst the buttons from the waist-band of his pantaloons, which 
as he did not wear suspenders, slipped down over his feet. 
The little son of Rogers, observing McCracken's exposed con 
dition, and seeing his father taken at a disadvantage, ran up 
and as Dr. Fitch relates, "bit him posteriorly," but without 
causing him to loose his hold of the gun. Rogers was secured 
and conveyed to Albany, after which we find no trace of hinu 
His house was the first one erected in the town, 

Difi'erent portions of Argyle township began to be settled at 
this time, the survey having been completed in 1764. The lots 
originally belonging to that township, but now forming a por- 
tion of the town of Greenwich, were numbered and allotted 
as follows : Lot 41, 350 acres, commencing at the north-east 
corner of the Campbell Patent, with its greatest length from 
east to west was allotted to Catharine Shaw ; south of this 
toward the Battenkill, were nine lots, also laid out with greatest 
length from east to west, and numbered and allotted in the fol- 
lowing manner : lot 30, 300 acres to Angus McDougall ; lot 31, 
350 acres to Donald Mclntyre : lot 33, 600 acres to Alexander 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 15 

McNacliten ; lot 33, 300 acres to John McCore ; lot 34, 350 
acres, to William Fraser; lot 35, running east across Cossayuna 
creek, 350 acres, to Mary Campbell ; lot 36, at the mouth of 
Cossayuna creek, 450 acres, to Duncan Campbell, Sr ; lot 27, 
300 acres, to Neil McFadden ; lot 38, 250 acres, to Mary Torry ; 
lot 39, a trianguhxr plot of 250 acres, to Margaret McAllister, 
being the soutliermost allotment of the patent. Then, com- 
mencing at the eastern boundary of lots 41, and 30 to 35, were 
lots with greatest length from east to west, and numbered and 
allotted as follows : Lot 40, 450 acres, to Robert Campbell Jr. ; 
lot 51, 350 acres, to Charles McArthur ; lot 52, 300 acres, to 
Duncan McFadden ; lot 53, 300 acres, to Roger Reed ; lot 54, 
300 acres, to John McCarter ; lot 65, 300 acres, to Hugh Mont- 
gomery ; lot 6i3, 250 acres, at the junction of White creek with 
the Battenkill, to Isabella Livingston ; lot 67, 250 acres, run- 
ning across White creek to the Battenkill, to Catharine McCar- 
ter ; lot 68, 250 acres, also running to the Battenkill. to Marga- 
ret Gilchrist. Besides these lots, there are several on the east 
side of Cossayuna lake running north to the "street." The 
numbers and allotments are as follows : lot 42, 400 acres, to 
John McGuirc ; lot 43, 200 acres, to Elizabeth McNeil, also 
known by the name of Campbell from her first husband, 
Archibald Campbell, one of the trustees of the patent ; lot 44, 
450 acres, to Duncan McArthur ; lot 29, 250 acres, to Daniel 
Clark ; lot 50, 300 acres, partially in the lake, to John McGow- 
an, Sr. ; lot 55, 300 acres, to Ann Campbell ; lot 56, 350 acres, 
to Archibald McCoUum ; lot 57, 250 acres, to Alexander 
McArthur; lot 58, 250 acres, Alex. McDonald; lot 59, 500 acres, 
to John McEwen ; lot 62, 300 acres, to Mary Baine ; lot 63, 
300 acres, to Margaret Cargjde ; lot 64, 450 acres, to Neil 
McEachern ; lot 69, 400 acres, to Hannah McEven ; lot 70, 
450 acres to John Reed ; lot 71, 350 acres to Archibald Nevin, 
making in all about 12,000 acres which were set off from the 
old township of Argyle at the formation of the town of Green- 
wich. A considerable number of the allottees did not settle 
upon their lands, having become permanently and satisfactori- 
ly located elsewhere. Others took up the unclaimed lands and 
have never been disturbed in their possession. Other settlers 
purchased lots not occupied at merely nominal prices. 

Duncan Campbell, whom we have mentioned as settling on 



16 HISTORY OF GKEENWICIL 

liis allotment in 1765, is stated to have been the Supervisor of 
the old township of Argyle, for the first ten years of its exist- 
ence. Arthur Reid, in his " Reminiscences of the Revohition," 
gives the year 1771 as the date of the township organization. 
The surveyors who run the division lines in 1764, were Archi- 
bald Campbell and Christopher Yates. The former was a 
son of Duncan Campbell, and a brother of Mrs. Catherine 
McArthur, who was wife of Duncan McArthur, and grand- 
mother of John Reed who now resides in Argyle, on that por- 
tion of lot 44 (drawn by Duncan McArthur), which still lies 
witliin the limits of that town Archibald Campbell 1st, as he 
was called, w^s a man of wealth, education and influence. 
He married Flora McNeil, and soon after the suryey was com- 
pleted, settled on a tract of 600 acres, which he owned in what 
was then Cambridge, now Jackson. Whether this land came to 
him by inheritance or purcaase, we are unable to learn. He 
possessed no little vanity, and was frequently heard to boast of 
his distinguished family connection. His house and furniture 
and his manner of living, corresponded with his pretensions. 
The house which he built in the year 1800, and in which he 
lived at his death, which occurred January 31st, 1808, is now 
owned and occupied by John Cowan. Little change has been 
made in the house, which is a handsome modern-looking struc- 
ture. Mr. Campbell died at the age of 69 years. He had pri- 
or to his death conveyed to his son John the tract now known 
as the Lyman Woodard farm, and which ran east as far as the 
old tavern stand at the corner of the road leading to Cossaj'una 
lake. To his son Alexander, he had conveyed the lands now 
composing the farms of Job Skellie and Alexander Maxwell on 
the south side of the Battenkill. In his will, John Campbell 
is not mentioned as a legatee, although all his other children 
received legacies. Duncan inherited the tract known later as 
the "Dunn" place, while the remaining lands in Greenwich 
were divided equally between him and his brothers Archibald 
and Alexander. Archibald received the homestead, on condi- 
tion that he give his mother a comfortable support during her 
natural life, or if they lived separate, pay to the executors 
the amount of a legacy, $750 mentioned in the will. A simi- 
lar legacy was devised to Ellinor, the daughter, who married 
Hon. John Crary, of Salem. John Campbell married Polly 



JII8TORY OF riREENWIOII. 17 

Walker. They were the parents of Mrs. Marinus Faircliilcl of 
Salem. Duncan Campbell, the 2d son, married Betsey Edie. 
Alexander Campbell married Nellie Dyer and settled in Jack- 
son, on what is now the Skellie farm. Archibald Campbell 2d, 
married late in life, Sallie Fuller, who is still living, his wid- 
ow, at Center Falls. Their son, Archibald Campbell 3d, now 
resides in the town of Easton. This family were related, we 
learn, somewhat distantly, however, to Archibald Campbell, 
the trustee of the patent, who was a merchant and hotel-keeper 
of the city of New York. In his later years he removed to 
Fort Edward, where he died. His widow married a Mr. Mc- 
Neil, and it was from the house of this Mrs. McNeil, that the 
lamented Jane McCrea went to her cruel and bloody death. 
The family of Archibald Liyingston, who settled with others 
on the Argyle patent in 1765, were prominent in the communi- 
ty at an early date. Livingston married a daughter of Alex- 
ander McNaughton. The record of that event and of the 
subsequent births, is so quaint that we cannot forbear transcrib- 
ing a portion of it: "Archibald Livingston and Ellinor 
McNaughton, Joined in Matrimony and Lawfully married in 
November 23d, In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 1756, And 
Since Children are Born unto them througii the Blessing of 
God of which the first is a girle whose name is Mary who was 
born in September the 26th, in the year 1757 ; the second a 
girle also Whose Name is Margaret. She was born in May the 
30tli day, in the year 1759 ; the third a girle named Jennie was 
born in February the 2d in 1767." Four other children were 
born to them. Alexander was born June 8th, 1769 ; Moses was 
born March 2d, 1772 ; Margaret, June 29th, 1774 and Nellie 
August 10, 1777. Alexander became a man of mark in the town 
and was well known throughout the county. The people hon- 
ored him by sending him to the Assembly in 1809, and again in 
1812, and in 1818 he was elected for the third time. He was, 
also, a member of the constitutional Convention of 1821. He 
died October 23d, 1863, aged 94. Members of the family still 
reside at East Greenwich. Of the other families that settled on 
the Batlenkill at that period, there is but little of interest that 
is available for this sketch. There are a few incidents, show- 
ing the strong characters, and sterling qualities of these pio- 
neers of the town of Greenwich, of which we will give a single 



18 TIISTOIIY OF GREENWICH. 

illustration. Roger' Reed, was one of the original settlers 
on the allotments of the patent, his lot being the one now oc- 
cupied by his grandson, Peter Reed, on Sand street. When 
he had become old, nearly 90, he expressed the wish that 
his brother should have a certain portion of his property. 
Some one suggested that he make a will, as otherwise, his chil- 
dren would not be obliged to make the bequest over to his 
brother. The fiery Scotch blood reddened the old man's tem- 
ples and his eye flashed as he exclaimed, " I would have you to 
know my cliildren won't dare to do different than I tell them/' 
and they did not, though their ages ranged from 50 to GO years. 
Such was the reverence which parents received from their 
children. Such were the men who commenced the settlement 
of the town of Greenwich, and the strong religious sentiment 
which pervaded their lives has had a benign influence upon 
the later settlements of the town. All of these men were 
prominent in the organization of the Associate congregation of 
South Argyle which took place in 1785. The Alexander Mc- 
Naugliton allotment covered the farm now known as the Chris- 
tie farm. On the premises opposite the house is the burial plot 
of the McNaughton and Livingston families, containing the 
remains of these pioneers. 

The next settlement in the town was in the Saratoga patent in 
1766, when Judge Nathan Tefft and his two sons, Stanton and 
Nathan 2d, came from South Kingston, Rhode Island, and lo- 
cated in the towns of Easton and Greenwich, Judge Tefl:t with 
his son Nathan taking by lease from Kelleyan DeRidder, the 
farm now owned by his great grandson, Nathan B. Tefft, in 
Easton, while Stanton Tefft took in the same manner from De- 
Ridder, the farm now owned by Harve}' Rogers, at Middle 
Falls, and built on the Battenkill at the fine water-fall at that 
point, the first saw-mill on that stream, of which we have au- 
thentic information. The following mention of this mill, is 
made in the field-book of the survej^ of the Saratoga patent, 
made in 1764 by J. R. Bleekcr : " whereas, we the subscribers, 
Commissioners appointed for the partition of all such lands, 
creeks, rivers and falls of water as remained undivided in the 
Saratoga Patent, have lately proceeded to the Survey, Partition 
and Balloting thereof ; and have assigned for defraying the ex- 
penses accrued on the same, all the islands lying in ITudson 



HISTORY OF (illEENWrOir. - 19 

River between the Southermost and Northermost bounds of 
the said Patent, being in all nine ishmds, as also two Falls of 
water with four acres of land Ijnng adjacent and convenient 
to each of them, the one being the second fall on Dionondeho- 
wa Creek, where Staten Tefft now has a saw'-mill. " This con- 
clusively proves the early date of their settlement in Green- 
wich. After the marriage of Nathan 2d, Judge Tefft lived at 
the house of his son Stanton, in Greenwich, until his death in 
1789. The settlement of the Teffts, was the beginning of the 
large influx of Rhode Island colonists, from which the Baptist 
church subsequently organized. The family yet remains one 
of the most prominent of the town. JSoop after their arrival, 
there came a man called from his powerful and sonorous voice, 
" Whispering Somes." He saw that the land in this locality 
was good, and determined to remain. There is a tradition that 
after looking over the country, he ascended Bald Mountain, 
and called back to Jonathan Foster, in Rhode Island, " Come 
up Captain Foster, there is good land here." We do not vouch 
for the truth of the tradition, and can only assert in support of 
it the fact that "Captain Foster" did come up here in 1767 and 
settled upon the farm now (iwncd by Morgan Heath. Mr. Fos- 
ter was the ancestor of several families of that name, who still 
reside in Greenwich. One of his daughters married Nathan 
Tanner, afterwards prominent as the first pastor of Bottskill 
Baptist church. Not far from the time of Captain Foster's 
arrival, a man named Bryant settled at the foot of Bald Moun. 
tain, and erected a log house of peculiar strength, to resist the 
attacks of the Indians, who several times tried to gain entrance 
to it, but were unable on account of the thickness of the doors 
and the manner in which they were strengthened with iron. 
Through some heedlessness, they did on one occasion get into 
the house in the absence of the family,and tried to get at some 
of the valuable possessions of the settler, which they not 
incorrectly supposed, were kept under the floor. The trap to 
the subterranean room, defied their ingenuity and tliey under, 
took to get through the floor with their tomahawks, but tailed 
in the attempt as the floor was made of hewn logs, pinned to 
heavy sleepers beneath. In after years, Mr. Bryant would 
gleefully point to the gashes made by the tomahawks of the 
savages, in their fruitless attempts t.o find his valuables. At an 



20 HISTORY OF GKEENWICTI. 

early date, Mr, Bryant burnt lime at the mountain. One day, 
when absent with his family, he left a pan of air-slacked lime 
in the house. Some Indians entered the place, and mistaking 
the lime for flour, attempted to make some bread of it, but 
discovering qualities in the flour with which they were not 
familiar, they abandoned culinary pursuits for more congenial 
duties. 

Following these men, Samuel Dickinson came to Greenwich 
in 1769, and located on what is now known as the Bailey place, 
about half a mile east of Center Falls. His son, Thomas Dick- 
inson, who lived most of his life near Bald Mountain, was 
born here m 1770. In 1769 or 1770, Daniel Rose, a mill-wright 
(long in the employ of Gen. Philip Schuyler, at Old Saratoga), 
came to Greenwich, and erected the first grist-mill in the town 
on what was then called "Foster's Brook," but is now known 
as the " Flax-mill Brook," on Job G. Sherman's farm. This 
mill was probably in operation as early as 1771, as Dr. Fitch 
speaks of it as having been erected before Reed's mill at Fitch'.s 
Point, in the town of Salem, and that mill was completed in 
1772. Mr. Rose also erected a saw-mill on the brook, and we 
believe these mills to have been those called by the next gen- 
eration, the " Old Rhodes' Mills." We do not learn that any- 
where in the county, there were mills 'answering as closei}^ to 
the traditionary descriptions of "Rhodes' Mills" as those built 
by Daniel Rose. It seems probable that the name " Rhodes" 
as applied to mills came from a misunderstanding of Rose's 
name. Robert Kenyon came to Greenwich with Rose, and 
selected the farm now owned by William M. Holmes, as the 
place of his future residence, but being obliged to go to Rhode 
Island for money, he found on his return, that a man named 
Mosher had "squatted" on his claim, and he took the farm 
now owned by Rev. William Day. 

In 1772, James Rogers, 2d, father of Thomas Rogers of Bald 
Mountain, and of the late James Rogers, 3d, of Middle Falls, 
came from Rhode Island and settled at the mouth of the Bat- 
tenkill, near the place where Clark's Mills now stand, on lands 
leased from the Lansing family of Albany. Rev., or as he was 
called, " Elder" James Rogers, father of James 2d, came with 
his son, and occasionally preached to the Christian' people of 
the surrounding country, although he was not settled over any 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 21 

church. Ahner Yates Rogers now lives on the farm first 
owned b}^ his grandfather, James Rogers 2d. In the same year, 
1772, Smith Barber, then a lad of 12 years, walked from Rhode 
Island to Greenwich. After a few- years he married a sister of 
Nathan Rogers, who came at about the same time with him- 
self and settled on the farm now owned by Horton Tefft, Mr. 
Rogers taking up what is now the Center Falls tavern stand. 
Smith Barber was for many years a deacon of the Baptist 
church, -where his cousin. Elder Barber afterwards officiated 
for many years as pastor. Thomas Bentley and David Tefft 
located themselves in Greenwich about the period of Barber's 
coming, the first on a lot of 100 acres, just east of what is now 
known as the Hannah Place property. He built a dam across 
the Battenkill near his house, where remnants of it may still 
be seen. He erected a saw-mill which he run for many years. 
John Rogers settled near Bentley, and soon after, David Tefft 
came, and erected a house on the Hannah Place lot, where he 
early kept a bar, and his house w^as known as Tefft's Tavern. 
It was afterwards moved to where it now stands, and w^as long 
called the "Betsey Whipple house." It is the present resi- 
dence of Amasa Rose. It owms the distinction of being the 
birthplace of the celebrated preacher. Rev. E. H. Chapin, D. 
D., of New York. Dr.' Chapin informed the writer that his 
recollections of the town were very indistinct, as he left when 
he was only a few months old. His father, who was a portrait- 
painter, had rented the house temporarily, while plying his 
profession. This is one of the oldest houses, if not the oldest 
now standing in the town. Its sides are built up of three inch 
plank, dove-tailed together at the corners. 

The names given above constitute the larger number of those 
who settled in the town prior to the Revolution ; all indeed 
whose precise situations we have been able to trace. Elder 
Tanner was undoubtedly here early, as he married a daughter 
of Jonathan Foster, (mentioned as one of the earlier settlers), 
after he came here, and in 1792 had two married daughters, in 
whose families liimself and wife resided. It is not known cer- 
tainly, where he first lived after his marriage, some of his liv- 
ing relations placing him on the Greenwich side of the river, 
near his father-in-law, while others say that he lived in the 



22 TIISTORY OF GREEN W roil. 

iowu oi Easlon, near the old cliurch. There are other names 
familiar at that time, but we are not at present able to locate 
them. 

In the Campbell patent, we note in the same range of time, 
although the exact date we have been unable to obtain, tlmt 
John and Rip Van Dam Sybrandt or Seebrandt, as it was then 
called, settled on the farm now owned by Horace Gavette. On 
a lot belonging to this farm, opposite a large tree, the stump of 
which may still be seen, was erected a log meeting house for 
the use of the Baptists of the locality. This was undoubtedly 
the first house of worship, erected in the town. It was aban- 
doned prior to 1790, abi>ut which time it was purchased by 
Jeremiah Newberry, and removed to the next farm north, and 
fitted up as a dwelling. Some of its timbers may still be seen, 
in the corn-house on the Newberry farm, now owned by a Mr. 
Graham. Mr. Jeremiah Newberry came to Greenwich in March, 
1778. His father, a soldier of the French war, present with 
Wolfe at the storming of Quebec, came at the close of the 
Revolution, in which he was a patriot soldier, to Greenwich, 
and lived with his son until his death. A large number of 
families came from Rhode Island during the war of whom we 
shall speak more particularly elsewhere. One fact should be 
stated here. The flats near the ford below Taylor's grove, were 
at an early period, settled by a considerable number of people, 
among-them being the family of David Pettej^s and his son-in- 
law, Peterson. Petteys came prior to 1775. Near the farm of 
Mr. Petteys is an old burial-yard, in which forty graves were 
recently counted. The Petteys family, a portion of the Teffts, 
Elder Tanner and others were buried there. We believe that 
but one inscription now remains to tell the passer-by of a life 
and a death. This is unquestionably the oldest public bur\ing- 
plaee in the town and one of the first in the county. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 23 



CHAP. III. 

Church History— The Baptist Church — Its Record— Incidents in 
Elder Tanner's Pastorate — Later History of the Ohwch— The 
First Methodist Glass Meeting— The North Greenwich Church — 
Later History — The Dutch Beformed Church— Its Organization 
and Subsequent History — The Congregational Church and the 
causes that led to its Organization — Its History. 

A sketch like this cannot embrace much of the ordinary 
detail of history. It must, however, particularize events 
which have had a lasting influence upon the morals of cdimii- 
nity. The author, therefore, deems it proper, to dwell some- 
what at length upon the history of those organizations which, 
as he believes, have contributed most largely to the moral 
well-being of society in the town. Those organizations are the 
churches of the town, and primarily, the "Bottskill Baptist 
Church." While in the history of that church there may be 
incidents wdiich will cause a smile from their quaintness, or a 
sigh and a tear from their illiberality, there is one feature of its 
past that stands out prominent and bold, and entitles it to 
unqualified respect : Bottskill Baptist church has never shrunk 
from the performance of disagreeable duties. Mistaken, 
unjust, cruel, it may sometimes have been ; weak and vacillat- 
ing it has never been. People respect and admire strength of 
principle and purpose, and this church grew strong in numbers 
from strong adherence to the rigid morality of the Bible. The 
men who formed the church, were men before whose sturdy 
strokes the forests fell; who braved the dangers of pioneer life 
with steady persistence, and who put into their church rela- 
tionship the same earnestness that characterized them in their 



24 HISTORY OF (UIEEN^WICII. 

secular affairs, and its labors thus became a component part 
of the history of the town. 

An accurate estimate cannot, of course be made of the influ- 
ence that churches have upon the formation of scciety. Tut it 
seems to us unquestionable that the systems of church organi- 
zation in the eastern and micWle states of our Union, have been 
the basis of our political freedom. There is no doubt that 
the difference of moral tone in Massachusetts and California, 
is due to the early presence of a cougregati(mal system of 
churches in the one state, and the absence and practical dis- 
regard of all church systems in the other. Both states were 
settled by men of strong characters and prejudices ; but in the 
one instance, these prejudices were toned by the ennobling 
influences of religious truth ; in the other they were increased 
by the fierceness of human passions. 

Vigorous churches are the most effective workers for repre- 
sentative government. In holding men accountable for moral 
dereliction, they teach them the uses of restraint. Pioneer 
churches are alw^ays more rigid in discipline than those organ- 
ized in popvilous communities, and they exercise a p )wer over 
their members, liardly second to that of the civil government. 
Withdrawal of fellowship from offending members, was in 
early times, nearly equivalent to social ostracism, and people 
were very careful not to incur this extreme penalty. How the 
" Church of Christ on the Bottenkill" considered the offences 
of its members, will be shown to some extent in the following 
pages, in which will be given the facts of its organization, so 
far as they have been obtainable, and the more interesting 
incidents related in its early records. 

There is a wi^^e difference of opinion existing betw^een those 
who have made the matter a study, as to the date of the organ- 
ization of this church. Rev. J. O. Mason, D. D., for many 
years pastor of the church, in a brief sketch, prepared for the 
Washington Union Baptist Association, gives the date of the 
organization as 1767, while the minutes of the Shaftsbury 
Baptist Association, fix it at 1774. The authoiity on which 
Doctor Mason bases his theory of the date of the organization, 
is chiefly a letter written by Elder Nathan Tanner in the year 
1800. In this letter Elder Tanner says: "Thiity-three years 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 25 

ago, the standard of the gospel was raised on the BoLtenkill." 
Whether these words imply the real organization of a church, 
or the simple gathering together of the Christians of the local- 
ity for the purpose of worship, is a matter of some doubt. It 
seems improbable, however, that the church organization 
could have been completed at that early date, as from the 
best data we can find, there were not more than six Baptist 
families within a radius of seven miles from the residence of 
Nathan Tefft, the first settler of the neighborhood. It is alto- 
gether reasonable to suppose, that these families, brought up 
in the same faith, and coming from the same locality, met each 
other at stated intervals for worship and for social intercourse. 
It is no doubt true, that the older men of the settlement exer- 
cised an implied church authority over the younger members 
of the community, chiding them for faults and to some extent 
holding them to account for breaches of Christian conduct. 
This condition of things covers the statement of Elder Tanner's 
letter. We believe no church organization existed prior to the 
date of the initial entry in the first book of records now ex- 
tant. The minutes in this book go back to June 9th, 1775. 
They were not entered therein until 1788, as will be seen by 
the following extract from the minutes of a meeting held July 
19th, of the last named year. " Appointed Elisha Bentley to 
serve the church as dark for the future. Voted by the church 
that a contribution is made in order to defray some church ex- 
penses, and that Bro. Elisha Bentley is to provide a book for the 
church records and minutes to be entered therein and that the 
dark shall transfer all our records and minutes into that book 
and the dark shall have a reasonable compensation for his ser- 
vices in doing the same." In the minutes of a meeting held Aug- 
ust 3d of the same year, the foUowmg entry appears: " Then 
purchased a book for to keep the church records in, which 
cost 6 shillings." The labor of transferring the minutes seems 
to have been a somewhat protracted one for this Elisha Bent- 
ley- ^vho was the first school-master of the locality, and at that 
time earning a precarious existence at his calling — for we find 
the following clause in the minutes of a meeting held as late as 
March 17th, 1793. " Voted by the church to allow the dark 
forty shillings for his labor in transferring all the records into 
this book." These entries show this book to be only a copy 



20 HISTORY OF GREEXWICII. 

of Die original minutes of the church, but it seems to comprise 
all there is of its written history, and we believe, gives the 
record of its organization. Dr. Mason thinks an older 
book of records was burned about 1775. It is the author's 
opinion, however, that no other book of records existed, but 
that fragmentary minutes from which the existing book of 
records ^^1lS copied, were destroyed, but at a later date than is 
claimed by Dr. Mason. We see no reason to believe that any- 
thing w^as contained in them anterior in date to the engrossed 
copy. If this theorj^ of the matter is a correct one as the char- 
acter of the record seems to show, we must consider that the 
organization and first regular church meeting took place 
at the house of Nathan Tefft in the town of Easton, June 9th, 
A. D., 1775, which is recorded in the book on the page follow- 
ing the Articles of Faith. The entry is as follows : '* Saratoga, 
June ye 9th, A. D., 1775. As a number of Christians being 
gathered together as a church, to walk in the rules of the 
Gospel, according to the laws and ordinances of God, and 
being assembled at the house of Nathan Tefft at a church 
meeting, to act and transact in the affairs of Christ's Kingdom 
(&c.). Whereasr Brother John Rogers, Jr., and Sisters Mehit- 
able Rogers and Amy Rogers and Sarah Bentlej^ being in cov- 
enant witk us, and having forsaken the assembling of themselves 
with us at our meetings for some time, the church, therefore, 
considering the affair, have appointed Brothers Nathan Tefft 
and Joseph Reynolds to treat with the aforesaid John Rogers 
Jr., Amy Rogers and Sarah Bentley, and in behalf of the 
church to cite them to attend our next conference meeting to be 
held at the house of Nathan Tefft, on the 23d day of this 
instant, tb show their standing and make good their place in 
the church. The church also appointed Brother Harper 
Rogers and Daniel Rose as messengers to treat with Sister Me- 
hitable Rogers and cite her to attend our next conference 
meeting as aforesaid." The language with which the minutes 
of this meeting opens, seems to the author, to be an initiatory 
assumption of authority and prerogative, and it appears 
nowhere else in' the records. It asserts organization without 
giving its details. It is true that the church there commences 
with the discipline of members of society who had been in the 
habit of assembling themselves together, for worship, but the 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 27 

necessity for discipline was one of tlie producing causes of the 
organization; and the sturdy and conscientious men wlio 
formed tliis cliurcli, did not allow the doctrine of expediency 
to interfere with their ideas of religious duty, and so began at 
once to deal with the shortcomings of those whom they felt 
belonged with them. Everything in the record seems to point 
to this meeting as the date of the church organization. At a 
second church meeting held the 33d of June 1775, the commit- 
tees appointed at the first meeting made their report, and 
the church deemed it wise to vote that " Joseph Reynolds be 
the dark to enter these things, and to keep the minutes of our 
Proceedings as need shall require." The inference from this 
is natural, that in the history of the church thereto, nothing 
had occurred which was deem.ed worthy of record. No word 
anywhere appears to indicate church action prior to the time 
of these meetings. We must therefore dissent from Doctor 
Mason's theory of its date, and must consider the opinion of 
Doctor Stephen Whight, as given in the minutes of the 
Sliaftsbury Baptist Association, unsustained. The date of the 
organization, we therefore fix as June 9th, 1775. There may 
have been, as before stated, a quasi-religious association as early 
as 17G7, but the condition of the country and the sparse settle- 
ments render entirely improbable the existence of a regularly 
constituted church for some years thereafter. Bottskill Bap- 
tist church was never puny. It was strong and healthful in its 
action from the first. From the original "Articles of Faith," 
wc quote the following on discipline, in which they set forth 
some of their rights and privileges as a church : " Before there 
can be an}^ orderly discipline in a church assembly they must 
be orderly constituted into a church state, according to Gospel 
institution as contained in the New Testament. A visible 
church of Christ is composed of a number of true believers in 
him, which he hath selected from the sinful mass of man- 
kind into union with himself by faith and love and in Gospel 
fellowship, one with each other, they being thus persuaded 
thus to give themselves up to the Lord and to one another, by 
the will of God, to serve him in all obedience to the faith. A 
number thus formed together, sufiicient to maintain Gospel 
discipline and government, are a spiritual house being built 
upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Ci)rist 



28 HISTORY OF GREENWK.Mt. 

himself being the cliief corner stone. A number of believers thus 
united under Christ, their mystical head are become a church 
of Christ, and have right to all the privileges of the Gospel, 
and as such have power to govern tliemselves in and" by the 
rules of the gospel, and to judge of the gifts and .to choose 
their own ministerial officers (&c.). 

At the third recorded meeting of the church, held July 10th, 
1775, Nathan Tanner, afterward pastor, united with the church. 
The record describes the meeting in the following language : 
" This is a day to be remembered, whereas there has been diffi- 
culties and disputes, and divisions with and between JSTathan 
Tanner and some of the members now travelling in unity, 
w'hich hold with Elder James Rogers and particularly between 
Tanner and Joseph Reynolds, all which difficulties and dis- 
putes are removed and done aw^ay, and the said Nathan Tan- 
ner enlisted as a member of the church with us, it being a day 
of the manifestation of God's power." At a church meeting 
held October 7th, 1775, it was "voted by the church that 
Nathan Tefft and Harper Rogers and Joseph Reynolds go as 
messengers of this church to Pownal at a conference to be 
held there to inspect into the character of Elder Benjamin 
Gardner. This was the first council in which the church took 
an}' part. At the next meeting after this, the church by vote 
resolved to withdraw fellowship from Mehitable Rogers, who 
appears to have been the first member excluded from the com- 
munion of the church." At a meeting held January 6th, 1776, 
the messengers sent to Pownal, made return that "they were 
admitted as members of the conference held at Pownal on 
Novemlier the 9th day, 1775, to inspect into the character of 
Elder Benjamin Gardner, and after hearing a number of evi- 
dences and considering thereof, it was resolved by the mem- 
bers in conference that Elder Gardner's character stand 
impeached by the evidences, considering him in the character 
of an Elder, which appears in his lewd and unsavory discourse 
and wanton conduct toward the female sex." At a meeting 
held February 10th, 1776, Nathan Tanner and Nathan Crandall 
appear as candidates for ministerial preferments. The church 
decided that they could not be set apart as Elders, but might 
be set apart as Evangelists. March 2d, the church elected 
Ilarjier Rogers and Nathan Teflt as deacons. Joseph Reynolds,' 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 29 

the clerk of the church felt aggrieved at the action of the 
church, as appeals by the following letter contained in the 
minutes : 

"Being a member of this body I think myself in duty 
bound to shew my opinion that the proceeding at our two last 
church meetings, doth not acquiesce or agree with the mind of 
God and that the consequences thereof will bring forth visible 
manifestations of his displeasure. Joseph Reynolds. 

March the 3d, A. D., 1776. 

March 9th, 1776, a meeting was held at the house of Harper 
Rogers, at which Kathan Tanner "proceeded to tell his expe- 
rience and teachings to preach the Gospel and administer the 
Gospel ordinances. The church being called upon to know 
whether they could give him fellowship to preach and admin- 
ister Gospel ordinances if he could be legally qualified, 
answered in the affirmative. Proposed whether members are 
satisfied that Nathan Tanner is to them a watchman or Pastor, 
and the members are divided in sentiment." On the 23d of 
the same month, Nathan Crandal likewise proceeded to exhibit 
his qualifications for the sacred office. The record states that 
"The church are of opinion that he ought to be externally 
qualified." The last meeting of the year 1776 according to the 
minutes, was held July 27th. From this time until September 
19tli, 1781, there is a hiatus in the record. The meeting at the 
last dale was a council of sister churches to remove difficulties 
existing between Nathan Tanner and Harper Rogers, but it 
accomplished nothing. At a meeting of the church, however, 
held September 22d, they agreed "to put on charity toward 
each other." This meeting appears by the record to have been 
one of general forgiveness and renew^al of friendships. The 
animosity does not seem to have been entirely expunged, even 
by this general display of good feeling, for we find in meet- 
ings following closely upon this, that dissatisfaction still 
remained. Quarrels in regard to secular matters were brought 
up and adjudicated upon by the church or referred to commit- 
tees of members as arbitrators. In other matters of dissension 
feeling ran so high that " the complainers went away and left 
the meeting." Nathan Tanner appears to have been unfortu- 
nate "in his zealous labors for the church, and was almost 
constantly in difficulty with some one without meaning to 



30 HISTORY OF GREEXWICH. 

wrong them or to do any injustice. He was a man of strong 
religious convictions, earnest and conscientious in the work 
to which he liad consecrated himself, and as uncompromising 
toward wliat he believed to be sin, as were the voyagers of the 
Mayflower. 

It seems from the records, that at this time, there had been 
strongs talk of abandoning the effort to keep up a church 
organization. In the minutes of a meeting held at the house 
of Thomas Bentley, November 20th, 1781, the matter is spoken 
of as follows : " Firstly, opened the meeting by singing and 
prayer to God. 2d, Chose Elder Powers (Pastor of the first 
Baptist church of Stillwater), Moderator. 3d, Whether the 
brethren choose to goe forward in church relation, &c. The 
brethren present being called upon to shew their minds both 
males and females and they gave their opinion to goe forward 
all but three persons. 4th, Enquired cf the brethren which 
joined before the covenant, they resolved to goe forward in 
general, Brother Tanner standing by on account of difficulties 
between him and Harper Rogers. * * * Elder Powers 
proposed to meet with us the first Sabbath in January and 
break bread to us if he finds us ready." 

The difficulty between Nathan Tanner and Harper Rogers 
having been revived, the dispute was carried on with consider- 
able rancor, but the matter was finally amicably arranged, and 
at a meeting held on the 16th of June, 1782, it was " propo.sed 
by Nathan Tanner that the brethren in covenant converse 
freely with him and shew the turning-point of their minds in 
regard to his ministerial gifts and qualifications in the Gospel, 
(Answer). The brethren resolved to confer with Brother Tan- 
ner on the subject. At a subsequent meeting, March 9th, it 
was " resolved to refar the matter to the council that is to be 
called agreeable to a resolve of this body hairing date January 
ye 5th 1782." 

The ordinance of baptism was first administered for this 
church, to a number of candidates, by Rev. Lemuel Powers, 
"April ye 7th, A. D., 1782. 

At a council wiiich was held June 4th of that .year, " Enquired 
into their choice of an Elder, and they made choice of Br. 
Nathan Tanner, ' whoom we Did the Day following proceed to 



IIISTOIIY OF GREENWICH. 31 

ordain.' 'Test (attest) Peter Worden, Moderator in Behalf of 
the Rest as appears by the minutes." 

Elder Tanner thus entered upon a ministry, which though 
fruitful of good to the church, brought him more of sorrow 
and bitterness, more of poverty, more of unmerited reproach, 
than usually falls to the lot of men. Advanced to middle life 
when he entered upon his ministerial labors, among a people 
who had known him and had known his weaknesses and short- 
comings; a people who were stern and unyielding in their 
prejudices, and a portion of wdiom were not even well-disposed 
toward him, it is hard to imagine a more trying position than 
was Elder Tann6r's from that time forth. His life was always 
a sad one after he assumed the burden of souls in Bottskiil 
Baptist church. Injustice, was done him from the beginning. 
Poverty like a grim specter haunted his humble home, and 
overwhelmed him all his life long. Yet for years, through all 
his troubles, he stood a strong man. He battled fruitlessly 
with a poverty the church should have saved him from. He 
defended himself manfully against charges the church slioukl 
have been ashamed of ; he stood up under persecution and- 
obloquy ; he maintained his manhood against the entire church 
until all his troubles culminated in bitter, biting poverty, and 
churchless, homeless and almost friendless his mind gave way, 
and he became an object of pity in the community. Separated 
from his wife by dire poverty, supported by his children, at a 
time when he felt he had a right to a support from his church, 
his later life presents as sorrowful a spectacle as is often wit- 
nessed. Received back into the church on sufferance, in his 
old age, shattered in mind, decrepit in body, the wreck of a 
noble man, it must have been to him a glorious relief, a joyful 
sundering from painful associations, when the angel of death 
hovered tearfully over his lowly couch for a time and then 
with lender care, lifted from this woeful w^orld, his poor, 
wavering, life-troubled soul, and on swift and Heaven- 
achieving wings bore it above, purified and sanctified into the 
presence of the God who gave it— into the presence of the God 
who rights all wrongs, who dries all tears and gives to laden 
souls the peace, the rest, the love, that outlast time and all its 
fleeting sorrows, finding its measurements only in the immeas- 
urable cvcles of Eternity. 



32 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

We shall, as briefly as we may, show in detail, some of the 
trials Elder Tanner endured. The general aspects of the 
church will appear in connection with this subject. 

After his ordination, Elder Tanner entered at once upon the 
functions of his ministry, administering the rite of baptism 
the same day. Things seemed to go on smoothly for a time. 
September 21st. we find the church adopting the following 
proposition : " Proposed that some of the brethren be appointed 
as helpers for the removal of dilficulties among brethren where 
private labor in single capacity fails," and such a committee 
was appointed. The same date, " Proposed whether to build a 
meetmg-house. Agreed it is necessary. Agreed that said meet- 
ing-house be built by the road between David Pettys and 
Jeremiah Propers near the burying-place. Proposed that 
Joseph Reynolds draw a petition to request General Schuyler 
to give or sell us a grant of a piece of land sufficient for the 
meeting-house for the use of this body. Voted that said Rey- 
nolds draw a subscription paper to propagate the building of 
said meetinghouse." At the meeting of November 10th, it 
was " voted that the meeting-house to be built by this bod}^ be 
made 26 feet wide and 32 feet long. " 

In matters of discipline, this church was occasionally called 
upon to treat peculiar phases of human depravity. We cite 
one instance, in which a woman confessed to the commission 
of adultery and justified herself in so doing, claiming that she 
had done no wrong. The record of a meeting held February 
"ye 15th, A. D., 1783," gives the following account : "Pro- 
ceeded to confer upon the matter of labor, on account of 
Sarah Robins pursuant to a complaint laid against her at a 
meeting of conference held on the 11th day of Januarj', 1783, 
in which comulaint she was accused of lodging with a soldier 
in her husband's absence. She owned it to be true and said 
she had done no wrong in so doing and at this meeting also this 
body is informed of her lodging another maii with her and 
being conversed with about it justifieth herself in so doing." 

The building of a meeting-house now occupied the attention 
of the church. Their resources were canvassed, the cost of a 
frame building calculated, and a log edifice decided upon as 
within their means. Suitable committees were appointed for 
the completion of their "Temple in the wilderness." 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 33 

The site at length decided upon for a church edifice was in 
Easton, near the present, residence of David Burdick. It was 
completed and occupied some time in 1783. Doctor Mason 
thus speaks of it : 

"Although it was a rude structure, the church felt that it 
was a great accession to their means, of religious prosperity 
and success ; and they were frequently permitted to see it ren- 
dered by the Spirit's presence, none other than the ' house of 
God, and the very gate of heaven.' It became sacredly asso- 
ciated with the holiest experiences of hundreds, many of whom 
were converted within its walls." 

While the church was thus struggling along toward a steady 
maintenance of gospel ordinances, it did not fail to summarily 
exclude members who persistently violated tlie covenant of 
the church or disregarded the ministrations of the sanctuary. 
Their letters of withdrawal were peculiarly pointed. We ap- 
pend one which had its rise in a domestic difficulty : 

" The Church of Christ at botten Kill at Saratoga to Eliakim 
Jonathan Hammond — Sendeth Greeting &, whereas a Com- 
mittee was appointed by the Church April ye 17th, 1784, to 
Visit you and treat with you and your wife on account of 
some Visable Obstructions in matters of travil in Church 
Relation and Humane fiedom as man and wife it appears by 
the Return of Said Committee that upon their CarefuU & 
Faithfull Laboar with you that peace .& unity might be Re- 
stored Between you & your wife that you might walk agreeable 
to the Rules of the Gospel you Raged against them Speaking- 
hard Reproachful words Railhng against them which Returns 
was made to the Church April 24th, A. D., 1784, and we 
Labrowd with you as a body Endeavouring to Reclaim you 
and you Confessed wrong and accused br. Kinyon and 
others of being the Cause of it which Confession was Not to 
the Satisfaction of the Church and as you Confessed your Ina- 
bility at that time to pay the Debt you justly owed we Con- 
tinued the affair to our next Conference for further Labour at 
which time you Did not attend and so we Continued the same 
at several times for your further attendance that if Possable 
you might be Restored and you Neglect from time to time 
untill our Conferrence Meeting held the 21 Day of August, A. 
D. , 1784, therefore we Do in^the Name of our Lord Jesus 



34 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Christ withdraw from you our fellowship agreeable to Mat- 
thew, Chapt. 18 & V. 17, and if lie Neglect to hear the Church 
Let him be unto the as an Heethen and a Publican. Signed in 
behalf of ye Church by Joseph Reynolds, Clark. 

We find the judgment of a court of Arbitrators set aside in 
the following characteristic manner : 

"Br. David Pettys Complaineth against Sr. Sarah Babcock 
widow and Saith she hath unlaw^fully withheld Kept back or 
Neglected to pay unto him the Contents of one Certain Claws 
of an arbitration judgment or award made up by Fenner Pal- 
mer, James Freeman, jur., and John McKeeny arbitrators 
Indifferently Chosen by the Said David Pett3's and Job Bab- 
cock Decesed, former Hursband to the Said Sarah Babcock 
widow to the amount of twenty Pounds, payable December 
ye 20th, 1783, the said Job Babcock having given Arbitration 
Bond to abide tlie afore said award Bareing Date August ye 
13th, 1782. We therefore having taking Carefull Labour to 
Inspect Into the affair and peruse a number of Laws Relating 
to administration on Intestate Estate and Do not find by any 
Evidence that she has acted unlawfully in the matter where of 
she is Charged by br. David Pettys wherefoie it appears not 
that he has au}^ Lawful Right of Complaint against Sister 
Babcock." 

This occurred March 1785. In the meantime Elder Tanner 
never receiving more than twenty-five to thirty pounds ster- 
ling annually for his services, and having a considerable family 
to maintain, was put to shifts which would seem strange in 
these days, to any but the self-sacrificing men who are now 
doing missionary and colporter work on our far western borders. 
In 1791 things had taken such a shape that it was voted to 
" Give Elder Tanner a letter of Recommendation to travil or 
to preach the Gospel." April 20th, 1793, we find the church 
discussing a " Resolve of the Church past Last Summer which 
Avas to Raise thirty Pounds for Elder Tanner last year which 
sum is not raised yet liy Better than five pounds," and pro- 
ceeding then to complete the amount In June 1793, some 
trouble grew out of the letter offered to Elder Tanner by the 
church, and he, after making substantial reparation for what 
the church deemed some improper remarks and actions, and 
finding that the brelhren were not di^^posed to treat him fairly, 



HISTOIIY OF GREENWICH. . 35 

called for a council, which was agreed to. The church had 
made the Elder a certain offer of which he spoke, in, as he 
says, " weather to harsh terms." The following sketch of his 
troubles taken from the records can hardly fail to be of interest : 

"At a Conference Meeting held June 29th, 1793, firstly 
opened the Meeting by Singing & prayer to God. 

" 3dly. Proceeded to business & Calld the Contents of a 
Certain Letter Eld. Tanner Sent to the Church in Question and 
Proceeded to Labour on the Same and Labourd a Long time 
th'ere on and at Length we took the words of the brethren 
whether it was an offer of the Church or Not and the Ma- 
jority of the Church says it was an offer therefore the Elder 
Desires the Previledg of a Cou>ncil and it w^as Voted to grant 
him his Request to have a Council. 

"Sly. Voted by the Church to have one Conference before 
the Council Come to pave the way for the Council and to ap- 
point the Churches to be sent for which Day is appointed this 
Day two weeks. 

" At a Conference Meeting held July ye 13tli, 1793. 

" First, opened the Meeting by singing & prayer to God. 

"31y. Appointed Brother Elijali Case, Moderator for the 
Day. 

" 3rd. Proceeded to business and Calld the Diffecelty be- 
twen the Elder & Church in Question and Concluded and 
Voted to take further Labour in the matter & after some 
Labour there on. 

"41y. the Elder Confesseth that he wivs too fast in answer- 
ing peacon Bently as he Did the Last Conference for it was in 
a wrong Spirit and Deacon Bently says that he takes Elder 
Tanner's Retraction in full payment. 

5. Elder Tanner says upon Careful Examination he Doth 
Really Believe that the Church and Congregation Did agree to 
Make a Certain offer to him and he Believes that the Church 
Really thought that they Did Make him the offer Legally and 
as the Elder Knew Nothing of what they had Conferred on 
therefore he heded the same in rather to harsh terms. 

"()ly. the Church sayeth that they Did Conclude & agree to 
make the Elder a Certain offer and they Really thought that 
they Did but upon Carefull E.xamination we find tliat we Did 
Not offer it Leo-all v. 



36 HISTORY OF GKEENWICII. 

" At a Conference Meeting held July ye 20th, 1793. 

" First, opened the Meeting by singing and prayer to God. 

''31y. Proceeded to business and Chose br. Elijah Case 
Moderator for the Day. 

" 31y. Proceeded and Calld Elder Tanner's Case in Question 
Concerning his Support in the Gospel and Concluded and 
Voted by the Church to Meet Next Saturday in Conferrence 
to settle and make up the thirty Pounds that was Voted by the 
Church to Raise for him the Last year. 

" At a Conference Meeting held August ye 17th, 1793. 
" First. Opened the Meeting by singing & prayer to God. 
"21y. Chose brother Elijah Case Moderator and brother 
Abiezer Edson Clark for the Day. 

" 31y. Deacon Bent]y& br. James Coon brought in as a Com- 
plaint in writing (Viz.) four Charges against Elder Tanner 
w^hicli was Laid befcre the Church. 

"41y. The Voise of the Church was taken and Voted that 
the Clark should take Recognance of them. 

Sly. In order to take Labour there on this Meeting is ad- 
journed untill the 23rd of this instant. 

"August ye 23rd, Met according to adjournment, first 
Opened the Meeting by singing & prayer to God. 

"Firstly, Queried by the Elder whether upon Examina- 
tion if any one fall in Debt to any one and stands Ready to 
pay part whether it shall be Received as so much paid of the 
Debt. 

" 21y. Answered by the Church to give Credit for all that is 
paid 

" 31y. Calld Deacon Bently's first charge against the Elder 
which was for his Protending to Dig in the Earth for Money. 

"41y. Elder Tanner Makes this plea that he was Informed 
and tells how he was Informed that there was Money hid 
there by Berguines men and that he Believed it and that he 
Concluded that under his Poverty or Necessity it was not any 
harm for him nor no other man to take it up or to find it 
and to make use of it and upon that Consideration he tryed 
to find it but to no purpose and as I understand it has Grieved 
a Number of my Brethren for which I am Very Sorry that Ever 
I tryed for to Dig for tlie money in the order I Did if it was to 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 37 

Do aoaiu I should Not Do it So that I hope my brethren may 
forgive me and over Look my fault. 

"51}'. The Brethrens' Minds was taken to Know how much 
of the Debt was paid and they all Said to be Satibfyed or to 
Let him goe but the two Deacons who was Not Satisfyed. 

"Gly. Calld Deacon Bentley's third Charge in Question 
against Elder Tanner whicli was for his Leaving his wife and 
not Living witli her without a Sufficient Reason. 

"71y. This above Charge the Elder Utterly Denyeth and 
Saiih the Reason of their Not Living togetlier is because their 
house and farm was took from them their Lease being out and 
Not being able to buy another they Concluded to Live with 
their Children and for Certain Reasons his wife Gave she Chose 
to Live with Such a Daughter and for Certain Reasons he gave 
he Chose to Live with another Daughter So they Mutually 
agreed for both of them to have their Choise and So the Elder 
Made it appear that he offen (went) to the Daughter's where 
his wife Made her home and Staid all Night or Nights and that 
his vvife Come Some times where he Makes his home and stays 
a Nights and that Never Lodged at one house but what they 
Lodged together. Calld the Brethrens' Minds to Know 
whether this Charge was just or Not. Answered by Vote of 
the Majority unjust. 

"Sly. This Meeting is Adjourned untill this Day ye 29th 
of August. 

" 1st. This Day August ye 29th, A. D., 1793, Mett according 
to adjournment. Opened the Meeting by Singing & pray to 
God. 

" 2Iy. Calld Deacon Bentley's Second Charge against the 
Elder in Question which was for his useing a Mineral Rod to 
serch for Money or mines or hid treasures. 

"31y. The Elder Makes this plea in this order that he Doth 
Not See the Evil there of for he Doth Not think it any More 
harm to use a Mineral Rod then to use a jack plane or to use 
a jointer or a Surveyors Compass to Stear a Coarse he wanted 
to goe through the wilderness. 

"Sly. Took the Brethrens' Minds whether it was Lawfull or 
Expedient for the Elder to use a Mineral Rod Answered by the 
Majority it May be Lawfull but Not Expedient. 

"Gly. Calld Deacon Bently's 4 Charge against the Elder in 



38 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Question which was that the Elder was the occatiou of Circu- 
lating a Report that he and his wife had the fowl Disease. 

"71y. The Elder utterly Denyes tb is Charge Sajdng that he 
Never Circulated Such a Report but he gives in this Diclera- 
tion that as he had ben troubled with the Gravil and Billerous 
Complaints Not Knowing what it Ment and being tinkterd 
Much with the Splean Did for Certain Reasons Did Mention 
fears he had to Some Physitions and to Some of his brethren 
Which promised a Profound Secrecy & be told them that he 
Did Not Know it Could be any Such thing Likewise he Pro- 
dused from under the hands of those Physitions that he Never 
had that Disorder Nor no Such Complaint which together 
with the whole of his Declaration he gave full Satisfaction that 
he Never was troubled with that Disorder he owned that he 
was the Cause of its being but not of Circulating it. 

"Sly. The Brethrens' Minds was taken whether the Elder 
was Not the occatiou of Circulating that Report and there was 
Seven brethren Voted that the Elder was Not the occatiou of 
Circulating that Report & there was Eight brethren Voted that 
the Elder was the occation of Circulating that Report but they 
Doe Not Charge him with any Eyil in so Doing. 

"At a Conferrence Meeting held September ye 14th. 1793. 

" lly. Opened the Meeting by singing & prayer to God. 

"21y. Proceeded to business and by Request Red the min- 
utes of our Last Conferrence and Conferred some there on. 

"Sly. Elder Tanner brings in a Complaint against Decon 
Bently Saying that Decon Bently says that he heard Decon 
Kinyon Make Elder Tanner an offer or proposial in behalf of 
the Church when he Concludes it Never was made in behalf of 
the Church and further the Elder Concludes that Decon 
Bently was not at that Meeting and Immediately thereon three 
or four brethren Declares that he was there for they See him, 

" 41y. Proposed to have a Council and to call for some Sister 
Churches to Come and Set in Conferrence with us and to Give 
Council in this Matter. 

"Sly. Calld a Vote & Voted to Call for a Number of our 
brethren from Several Churches to Come and Set in Confer- 
rence with us and to Give us Council on Next Wednesday 
week at ten of the Clock of the Day Proposed to Send for 
Several Churches (Vizt) for Elder Caleb Blood Church of 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 39 

Sliaftsbuiy for Elder Lemuel Powers Church at Stillwater for 
Elder Samuel Rogers Church at Saratoga for Elder Joseph 
Craws Chh. at Greenfield for Elder Amasa Browns Chh. at 
westfield for Elder Clark Rogers Chh. at handcock for Elder 
Justice Huls Chh. at Steventown for Elder Caleb Nicols Chh. 
in Pownal and it is the Vote of this Church for these above 
Churches to Come and to set in Conferrence with us on 
wednesda}^ the 25th of this September and to Give us Council 
in this our great Diffeculty. 

" At a Conferrence Meeting held September ye 28th, 1793. 

"1st, Opened the Meting by singing & prayer to God 
this Meeting was appointed to Know whether the Church Re- 
ceives the Result of Council or Not 

" 21y. Proceeded to Confer there on and Elder Tanner made 
a Retraction of his Diging for money in the manner he Did in 
this order that he has seen the Evil there of and that he be- 
lieves he Committed an Evil there in and has brought a Great 
Reproach upon that Innocent Cause of God and he says he 
Renounces it for the futer and prays his Brethren to forgive 
him and to over Look his sin in so Doing. 

"Sly. He Saith thai he Doth Not See the Evil for him to 
use a Mineral Rod any more then for any other brother in the 
Church to use it so that if he Neglects Not his Ministry in So 
Doing but Rather then to offend a brother he "will Refrain 
useing it. 

"41y. He Concludes that he was Innocent in his Conduct 
under his Curcumstance of he and his wife having two homes. 

"51y. The Elder Concludes him Self Innocent in Spreading 
the Report of he and his wife having the foul Disease he owns 
he was the first Cause of the Reports being but not of Spread- 
ing of it he Confesseth that he was to formiUer and Did make 
to Many f rends in his Diffeculty. 

" 61y. And Concerning his going to the Congerist he Con- 
fesseth his fault as folloAveth Saying he was tempted so to Doe 
which was a Great Evil to Except of the temtation but he has 
Done it for which he is Very Sorry for to Goe to a Cungerer 
for Council was always against his Principle and is yet thoe 
I hev ben tempted to do the Like I hope I Never may Do the 
Like again this Meeting is Rcfaired to our Next Conferrence 
i n Corse. 



40 HISTORY OF GKEENWICII. 

"At a Couferreiice Meeting held October ye 19th, A. D., 
1793. 

*' First. Opened the Meeting by singing & pray to God. 

"21y. Appointed brother Elijah Case Moderator for tlie 
Day. 

":jly. Proceeded to business and Calld the Brethrens Minds 
who Receivd the Result of Council & who Did Not Receive 
and there was fourteen Male Brethren Received the Result and 
there was Eight Male Brethren Did not Receive the Result & 
there was five females Received and five Received it JNol so 
that the Majority of the Church Received the Result of 
Council. 

"41y. Red the Result of the Council in Publick. 

" 51y. Then Elder Tanner Reads a Long Epistle of his mind 
in answer to the Result and to Shew how much of the Result 
he means to Confess. 

'• 61y. There was a Number of Questions asked the Elder to 
which he gave answer to them. 

" 71y. Took the minds of the Brethren to Know how many 
the Elder's Confession had paid the Debt too. 

"Sly. The Voise of the Majority was Not paid in full and 
Not for him to preach untill he was Visablely Restord. 

" 91y, This meeting is adjourned untill this Day two weeks 
at one a Clock of the Day in order to send for Council and to 
appoint the Churches to be sent unto. 

" Met according to adjournment. 

"At a Conferrence Meeting held November ye 2d, A. D., 
1793. 

" First, opened the Meeting by singing & praj'er to God. 

"Sly. Proceeded to business and Chose brother Elijah Case 
Moderator for the Day and then Red the minutes of the Last 
Conferrence and Conferred on Sundrj^ Subjects and Concluded 
to Call for Council agreeable to the Vote past and agreed to 
send for the following Churches (Viz.) for Elder Bloods Chh. 
for Elder Powers Chh. for Elder CraAvs Church for Elder- 
Browns Chh. for Elder Samuel Rogers Chh. for Elder Nicholes 
Chh. for El^r FTuls Chh. for Elder Eastmans Chh. for Elder 
Wordens Church which Council is to be held on the 37 Day of 
this Instant November on Wednesday at 10 o'clock of the Day. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICIL 41 

Pi-oceeded to Confer on some Matters to Lay before the 
Council that is Sent for to gi\^e us Council on the 27th of this 
Month. 

41y. Voted that the first Question to be Laid before the 
Council is whether Elder Tanner's Confession is Sufficient to 
Give Gospel Satisfaction for the Crime the Council found him 
Guilty of on the 25 Day of September Last the 2 Question 
Voted to be Laid before the Council is whether if Elder Tan- 
ner gives good Evidence of true Repentance he ought to be 
again Intrusted in the office of the Ministry. 

61y. the third Question Voted to be Laid before the Council is 
whether it is a breach of Gospel Rule for Elder Tanner to Set 
up a Separate Meeting to preach to a Number when the major- 
it}^ of the Church had Voted that he ort Not to preach until 
he was propperl}' Restored in the fellowship ot the Gospel. 

71y. the 4 Question Voted to be Laid before the Council is 
whether it ought to be held asi a bar against Such Brethren as 
justif}^ Elder Tanner and foller him in So Doing. 

At a Conferrence Meeting held December ye 7th A D. 1793 
first opened the meeting by singing & prayer to God. 

21y Chose br Elijah Case Moderator ct James James, Clark 
for the Day. 

oly Proceeded to business and De'n Kenyon nioyed to know 
who was agreed to maintain Covenant together. 

41y Eld'r I'anner opposed it which caused some Labour on 
it and five brethren manifested their minds in renewing their 
Covenant and then some Labour was taken with Eld'r Tanner 
but to no purpose and then Eld'r Tanner proposed to have a 
general Conferrence for the whole Church to meet two or three 
weeks hence and Confer together. Then there was the follow- 
ing Questions asked the Eld'r. The first Question was asked 
thnt suppose the answer to the Second Question Laid before 
the Council was Left out are you agreed with the Rest or main 
-part answered by the Eld'r no but Very Little part the Second 
Question proposed to him was Suppose- some small Rongs was 
Confessed on both parts could you goc on with the Chh with- 
out the fellowship of the Sister Churches— the Eld'r answered 
yes he could. Then the Chh said there was no Need of another 
meeting for iJiere is rdready a Division and then the Eld'r Tan- 
ner called them bretliren that was agreed witli him to mecit 



42 iii^;toky of gheenwicii. 

Avilli him in Confcrrence two weeks from that Day at tlie meet- 
ing house. And then them that was agreed with Council 
appointed a Conferrence to be held at the house of br Wm 
Teffts on tlie 19th of this instant December. 

At a Conferrence Meeting held December ye lOtli A D. 1793, 
first opened the meeting bj^^ singing and prayer to God. 

21y Chose brother Elijah Case Moderator for the Day and 
proceeded to business and called on the brethren to know 
whether they Received the Last Result of Council or Not and 
they Cordely agreed to Receive the Last Result of Council on 
there Labour with Eld'r Tanner some making a Reserve on 
the answer to the Second Question Laid before the Council 
Called a -Vote of the Brethren to know whether they was Ready 
to with Draw iheir fellowship from Elder Tanner as a Disor- 
derly walker m Israel and from all those Brethren that goes of 
with him and holds him as a Clean man. And it is Voted by 
the Church that the Clark draws a with Draw and Presents 
the same to the Church at their Next Conferrence meeting 
containing a with Draw trom Elder Tanner and the brethren 
with him. 

oly Voted by the Church to send Messengers to theDifturent 
branches of this Church to show them the Labour we have had 
with Eld"r Tanner and how the Church has Conducted in the 
affair. 

61y Voted for our Next Conferrence to be held at brother 
James Jameses on the third Saturday in January and our Cov- 
enant Day the Saturday before the first Sunday in the month. 

71y Voted to send bro Elijah Case De'n Bentiy br Able Lan- 
fier and br James James as Messengers to Visit the Different 
branches of this Church. 

At a Conference Meeting held Januar ye 18th 1794. 

lly Opened the meeting by Singing and prayer to God. 

21y Chose br Elijah Case Moderator for the Day. 

oly Proceeded to busfness and Red the Minutes of the last 
Conference meeting. 

41y The brethren that were seut as Messengers of the Chh to 
Visit the Different branches to show them the Labour we have 
liad with Eld'r Tanner that they have visited the Different 
branches and has shown them the Labour that has been taken 
and have desired all them brethren thai excepts of the Results 



HISTORY OF GREEN WICII. 4:3 

of Council to give in their names to the Chxrk as soon as they 
shall have a convenient opportunity. 

51y Brother Simeon Berry makes his confession that he was 
to fast in Excepting Eld'r Tanners Confession that now he 
means to Except of the Result of Council. 

61y Voted by the Church to Receive brother Bcrrys Retrac- 
tion. 

71y The Clark Presents a Letter of with Draw from Elder 
Tanner and Brethren and it was Red and a Vote Cald on it & 
it was approbated by the Church. 

Sly Voted by the Church that br one Siphrolis Hammond 
and br James Coon Carrieth the Letter of with Draw and 
Deliver it to Elder Tanner. 

91y Voted that the with Draw from Elder Tanner and breth- 
ren be Red in Public after meeting. 

After tlie Church had resolved to Avithdraw from Elder Tan-- 
ner, it remained destitute of a pastor for some months; 
but finally, Edward Barber, jun., came as a candidate. To 
use Dr. Mason's words, as given in his sketch published by the 
Washington Union Baptist Association in 1863: 

" On the 9th of March, 1794, Edward Barber, jun., then a 
young man of about 26, a licentiate from Stephentown, ap- 
peared before the church as a candidate for settlement; or, in 
the language of the Record, ' to improve his gift with a view 
to further acquaintance.' He continued to supply the church 
until the 35th dny of September following, when he was set 
apart to the work of the ministry by solemn ordination— tho 
services taking place in the barn of Wm. Tefft— Eld. Caleb 
Blood acting as Moderator, and preaching the sermon— Eld. 
Samuel Rogeis offering the ordaining prayer— Eld. Clark Rog- 
gers giving the charge— Eld. Obed Warren giving the hand of 
fellowship and Eld. Amasa Browm offering the closing 
prayer. ***** * * * At the 
time of Eld. Barber's settlement, the church having abandoned 
the former house of worship were already taking measures for 
the erection of a new and more spacious edifice, on th^ north 
side of the Bottenki'd. This edifice, the one which the church 
now occupies, was built in the year 1795. Though somewhat 
remodeled since, it remains essentially the same as that in 
w^.ich the fathers worshiped nearly seventy years ago." 



44 HISTORY OF GKEEXWTOn. 

. During the ministiy of Elder Barber, the church took a very 
decided stand against what is known as " Specuhitive Frce- 
Masonr}'-," a position it has persistently held to the present 
time. We find the church at a business meeting hold May 7th, 
1796, passing the following resolutions: 

"•Resolved, by the church that any member of this Church 
that Joins the free Masons after this Date is a transgressor of 
the Covenant of this church. ■ 

'■'Remlred, hy this church that if any meml.'Gr that l)elongs to 
this or any other Church Coming here and Joining thisCiuirch 
and then to meet with the masons without acqaaintiug the 
churc'h there of shall be Culpable for so Doing:." 

In the year 1808, the subject again came up and was laid be- 
fore a large council called to meet with the Bottskill Church. 
The decision of the council was unanimous in advising the 
churches to discountenance the institution for certain reasons 
which are given at length in the result; When, a quarter of a 
century later, the disclosures of William Morgan and others 
laid bare the secret m5^steries of the order, the church, as might 
have been anticipated, judging from her antecedents, took still 
stronger ground against the institution. This position she has 
endeavored to maintain in regard to this as well as to all siuii- 
lar organizations, unto the present day. A-position so peculiar 
and ultra as many have regarded it, has not failed to excite a 
great amount of secret and open hostility to the church for 70 
3'cars past. 

Elder Barber, an able and discreet clergyman, as he proved 
himself to be, remained with the church until his death 
in 1834. His successor was Elder Nathaniel Colver, a man of 
excellent powers of mind and strong convictions, who, with 
the church, took advanced ground on the questions of slavery 
and intemperance. So high did the excitement run that from 
1834 to 1837 the church edifice itself suffered damage from 
missiles, and it is stated, that Elder Colver, in defense of his 
principles, did not hesitate in the exercise of muscular Chris- 
tianity. His pastorate closed Jan. 1, 1838, leaving the cliurch 
strong and vigorous. 

Elder Wm. Arthur succeeded to the pastorale of the chuifb 
commencing his labors about the 1st of Nov., 1830, and re 
maiiu'd about five years enjoying a ])eaeefnl and prosperous 
pa.storate. EUh'r Arthur was biihcr to i^cn. Arthur, the pros- 



HISTORY OF GllEENAVK II. 45 

ent Collector of the port of New York, lie retired from the 
charge of the church in August, 1844, and in September of the 
same year, Rev. J. O. Mason entered upon his long, peaceful, 
andu.selul pastorate, during which about 1,000 persons were 
added to the church and the present handsome and commodi- 
ous place of worship erected, which event took place in 18G6. 
This history can add nothing to his reputation or to the es- 
teem and veneration in which he is held. The resident mem- 
bership of the church was about 550 at the close of his labors, 
which, owing to his feeble health, occurred in May, 1873 

Rev. C. A. Johnson, the present pastor, commenced his 
labors with the church in November following, and has proved 
an able, conscientious, and discreet pastor, who has won the 
sincere respect and affection of his people. The chief incident 
of interest connected with his pastorate w^as the endeavor, 
during the winter of 1875-6, tasecure a modification or abolish- 
ment of the clause in the covenant of the church, Avliich re- 
quires the exclusion of members who unite with any secret 
organization. The 'pastor earnestly favored the proposed 
change in the covenant, preaching a very able discourse in its 
favor, being willing to trust to the consciences of the church 
membership all questions of this kind; but at a church meeting 
held during the winter, it was decided to leave the covenant 
unchanged, and offending members were accordingly excluded 
from church fellowship. The church took this extreme 
ground at the time of the Morgan disclosures, and has held her 
jDosition ever since. And while some may doubt the wisdom 
of this course, and may deplore what seems to them an illiberal 
spirit, we cannot fail to admire the rigid adherence to supposed 
duty on the part of this church, which as well in regard to the 
real evils of slavery and intemperance, took what might 
properly be called ultra ground and strictly adhered to it 
through trial and persecution. Thus have we traced particu- 
larly the history of this pioneer church of Greenwich, which, 
hovk'fever we may view it, was the chief instrument of the moral 
growth of the town, and among whose early members we may 
find the progenitors of many of the present prominent families 
of our locality, as the Whipples, the Cottrells, the Tcffts, and 
many others. 

Following the organization of this church, was the settle- 



46 HISTORY OF okp:envvicii. 

ment of a few families on the banks of the Battenkill, on the 
immediate site of the village. Among them was a Mr. Carbine, 
who had purchased considerable land on both sides of the Bat- 
tenkill. He had built a dwelling, a dam across the river about 
opposite the present site of Eleazer Looker's house, had put 
a saw mill in operation, and opened a store in part of his house 
prior to 1780. He did not prosper and removed to Albany, 
where Job Whipple, of Cumberland Hill, Rhode Island, found 
him and purchased his interest in this locality, and built a new 
dam a little north of the present site of "Palmer's Dam," 
where he erected the first grist-mill of the village, known from 
him as " Whipple City." 

Mr. Whipple was an energetic, pushing man. He saw clearly, 
that the future value ()f his purchase would depend upon the 
rapidity with which he could make his water-power a center of 
productive industries. He at once sought, and in William 
Mowry found a man competent to carry out his plans. Mr. 
Mowry had for years been in the employ of Samuel Slater, the 
father of American Cotton Manufactures, at Pawtucket, R. I. ; 
was thoroughly up in his business, and having been refused a 
merited advancement by Mr. Slater, he the more readily 
listened to Mr. Whipple's proposals to remove to Greenwich. 
This he did, married Mr. Whipple's daughter, and about the 
year 1800 set up some Spinning-frames in a building then occu- 
pying the present site of Weaver's Machine Works. His yarn 
was for a number of years jobbed out to the women of the 
surrounding country, to be woven. Ladies rode in on horse- 
back, from Whitehall, Granville, and other remote towns in 
this county and also from Vermont, for yarn to weave, taking 
their pay in yarn for the use of their own families. Probably 
at no time in the history of the village, has more briskness 
characterized its people than during those primitive days, 
when the dames from all the surrounding country came here to 
do their trading, because their own industry could here help 
them to eke out the earnings of the year, with strong, service- 
able cloth for house and under wear. The enterprise proving 
eminently successful, an association was formed in 1812, under 
the style of Wm. Mowry & Co., the other members of the firm 
being Towi:^send and Samuel McCoun, of Troy, and John Gale 
of Greenwich. 



HISTORY OF GREEN WlCir. 47 

Mr. Mowry's enterprising spirit would not permit him to 
lest, while in other parts of the woild, maniifiicturers were 
growing rich upon the fruitful products of improved machinery. 

He therefore embarked, July 9lh, 1816, for Liverpool, accom- 
panied by a Mr. Wild of Hudson, a most expert mechanician, 
and on their arrival in the manufacturing districts of England, 
in defiance of all rules refusing admission to manufactories, 
forced their way to the machines he most desired. His able 
coadjutor in the few moments before they were ejected, ob 
tained so clear an idea of the Double Speeder, that on his 
return, he was able to build for Mr. Mowry, and put in opera- 
tion the first Double Speeder used in this country, which was 
in 1817 placed in the Brick Mill, whicli, occupied the site of the 
old Flax mill— in fact a portion of the present Flax mill is the 
old weaving-room of the Cotton Factory, which contained 
eighty looms and 2,500 spindles. 

Thus commenced in Whipple City the industry that more 
than all others has made the prosperity of the village of Green- 
wich, which continued under Mr. Mowry's management until 
failing health compelled him to resign the charge of the busi- 
ness to his son-in-law, Henry Holmes, by whom it was contin 
ued until the year 1845, at which time the machinery had 
become antiquated, and the stock had mostly passed into the 
hands of others who felt no interest in keeping up the business, 
which was accordingly in that year abandoned. 

About 1795 a Mr. Langworthy organized a Methodist class 
meeting near Reid's Corners, which was continued until 1818, 
when the first Methodist Episcopal Church in this town was 
established at North Greenwich. The names of its pastors are 
not given. In 1838 a branch was established in the village of 
Greenwich, with Rev. David Poor as its first pastor. The old 
church was built soon after the organization This has always 
been a live church, and has now a large and generous mem- 
bership, as is evinced by the spacious and brautiful structure 
in which they worship. Rev. H. F. Austin, the present pas- 
tor, is an able and earnest worker, and the church prospers 
under his leadership It is stated on good authority, that at 
the time of the organization of this chur«li in the village of 
Greenwich, the Baptists tried to get an injunction against 
it as a nuisance, but failed ignominiously. 



48 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

The Reformed Clmrch was organized iu the year 1807, being 
a portion of the church in Easton, whicli churcli for a consid- 
eration, furnished to the people of Whipple Cily the services 
of Rev. Philip Duryea for one third of the time. The church 
was built in 1810, and the first pastor, Rev. James Chrystie, 
commenced his labors there Nov. 25, 1815, two calls to other 
clergymen having been declined. The church has been fairly 
prosperous, and in 1874, under the present pastor, Rev. J. G. 
Smart, completed its present elegant and commodious lunuse of 
worship . 

We give below the larger part of the Historical Sermon 
delivered by the pastor, Rev. J. G. Smart, May 11, 1873: 

"On the 20tli day of March, 1807, an agreement was made be- 
tween the Consistory and minister of the church in Easton, of 
the first part, and Ezra Dyer, J. P. Becker, and Chas. Ingalls, 
of the second part, which for the sum of $83 53, to be paid in 
two installments, by the parties of the second part to the C(m- 
sistory and church in Easton, should secure to them the ser- 
vices of Rev. Philip Duryea one-third of the time for which he 
was engaged by the Easton church; his services being equally 
divided between that and the church at Schuylerville. The 
place of meeting to be some proper place in or near Whipple 
City, in the town of Greenwich. 

This agreement was renewed the next year. Services w^ere 
probably held at Reuben Bride's, afterwards Capt. Moore's 
tavern. They held the services in the ball room, Mr. Duryea 
preaching part of the time. The old tavern stood in front of 
the site of the present hotel, its front stoop coming close to the 
well curb. Opposite and a little southeast from this stood the 
house soon after purchased and occupied by Luke Prentiss. 
The old store stood near the lower part of Main street, and the 
road ran up over the hill, across the place where this building 
is standing; it also branched and ran north of Mr. Prentiss' 
house up to the tavern and came together again near the resi- 
dence of Mr. Dyer, This was an open lot down to Main street, 
the only houses on it being those owned by Mr. Whipple. 

The recorded history of this house begins with the following 
brief minute; it bears no date, but as we learn from the unex- 
ecuted bond of Chas. Ingalls, should have been dated Febru- 
ary 5th, 1810. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 49 

"At a meeting of a number of inhabitants of tlie town of 
Greenwich and Easton, with a view to talking into considera- 
tion the propriety of building a liouse for public worship in 
Union Vilhige: Voted, That it is a wish of this meeting to 
build such house, and that a committee be chosen to view the 
ground, and report to the meeting. Committee,— Thomas 
McLean, John P. Becker, and Moses Cowan, Committee to 
draw a plan to the house, — Capt. Ezra Dyer, J. S. Wright, and 
Abram Tice." 

Again, on the I4th day of September, 1810, those who had 
subscribed for the new church, gathered at the residence of 
Reuben Bride, received reports from the two committees ap- 
pointed at the first meeting; adopted a plan and arranged the 
method for collecting the subscriptions. A building commit- 
tee of six was appointed, viz: Robert Moores, Araspaes Folsom, 
Elijah Norton, Moses Cowan, Otis Whipple, and Aaron M. 
Perme. Captain Moores was specially appointed to purchase 
material, employ workmen, collect and pay out all monies, to 
superintend the work, and was to be paid a reasonable com- 
pensation for this service. It was further resolved that Charles 
Ingalls examine the title to the land, and the manner of receiv- 
ing the deed, in trust or otherwise, until the subscribers should 
become a corporate body competent to hold property. The 
title being satisfactory, on the third day of October, Edward 
Baber made a survey of the lot. The survey begins " at the 
well near David Whipple's house," measuring "three chains 
and sixty-two links," to reach the southwest corner of our lot, 
the boundaries of which were nearly the same as at present; 
two small parcels having been added at different times since 
respectively, on the south and east of the original purchase. 

Mr. Ingalls leported that it would not be proper either for 
these persons "to take a title to themselves individually, nor 
any individual in trust, but that it should be given to some in- 
vldual who should become bound to execute a conveyance 
to the Society when they should be in a capacity to receive a 
title to and hold real estate." 

Mr. Ingalls prepared such a bond, binding himself and heirs 
to Job Whipple, Moses Cowan, John P. Becker, Joseph Safford 
and others, in the penalty of |10,000. Through some neglect 
the bond was never executed. But on the first of December 



50 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

1810, the land was deeded to him by Nathan Rogers and Jolin 
S. AVright, giving to him a full title to the lot for the consider- 
ation of $75, lawful money. Mr Ingalls died before the in- 
corporation, and the property being deeded without the bond 
having been executed, it became necessary to petition the leg- 
islature to authorize his children to execute a deed to the land 
to the Consistory, and from this petition we learn that one-half 
the land ^vas given by Nathan Rogers; of the remainder it is 
said that it was also given or paid for by the congregation. 
The petition is dated March 22, 1813. The act incorporating 
the Consistor}^ was passed but a short time before this request 
was sent to the Legislature. 

The well spoken of in the survey, is that now in use and 
enclosed by a picket fence just in front of the Union Hotel. 
The house w^as the tavern, and its position has already been 
described. Reuben Bride occupied it at that time; it was built 
and owned by David Whipple, and afterwards w\as occupied 
by Captain Moores, and later still by Simeon Taylor. 

About twenty-live years ago, the house occupied by Luke 
Prentiss was purchased by Henry Holmes and William H. 
Mowry, and moved to its present site, near the northwest cor- 
ner of our lot to make room for the brick row. It is at present 
occupied as a billiard saloon. 

The record from the time of appointing the building commit- 
tee is not very full. 

The foundation of the ne^v church w^as immediately began, 
and the. frame erected before winter set in. The place was 
selected evidently because of its commanding position. 

Rev. Phillip Duryea of Saratoga, now Schuyleryille, contin- 
ued to officiate in the new^ church, occasionally, until a pastor 
could be secured. Under his influence, in 181^, (the exact 
date I have not been able to ascertain), the people worshiping 
here appointed Simon De Ridder a commissioner to present 
their petition to the Classis of Rensselaer, prajdng the Classis 
to organize them and receive them into the communion of the 
" Protestant Reformed Dutch Church," under the title of the 
" Reformed Dutch Church of Union Village," the same now 
designating us, excepting the word "Dutch" stricken out a 
few years ago, l)y the Genrral Synod of our church. 



HISTOKY OF GREENWICH. 51 

Oil the IGth of November, this same year, a commissioner 
from the Chissis met in this house, and resolved to grant the 
petition. Whereupon the congregation proceeded to organize. 
JMoses Cowan was elected chairman, and Israel Williams, clerk. 
An election was held for officers, and by a unanimous vote, 
Benjamin Griffin and Thomas McLean were chosen elders, 
Simon DeRidder, Luke Prentiss, and James Wells were chosen 
deacons. Thomas McLean refusing to serve, Simon De Ridder 
was chosen elder in his place, and on Sabbath, the 29th of No- 
vember, the first officers of this church were ordained and 
installed, and the " Reformed Dutch Church of Union Village " 
began its existence, all things having been made ready near 
two years before. 

The first communion service of which we have a record, w^as 
held July 10th, 1813. In February of the next year, a call was 
made out for the Rev. John Battle at the very liberal salary of 
$500, a parsonage, garden plot and fire-wood, his time to be 
equally divided betw^een this church and that in Argyle, each 
congregation agreeing to pay one-half, only the people with 
whom he should reside were to furnish house and lot. The 
call was declined. 

In the interval between this and the issue of a call to Rev. 
W. C. Brownell at $600, which was also declined, we find a 
Consistorial minute complaining that the congregation would 
not answer the call to meet and elect new officers. This was 
Nov. 12, 1814 It w^as found necessary to change the manner 
of electing officers, and adopt that usual in the Dutch church, 
accordingly Classig was petitioned to grant the change. I find 
some excuse here for your present indifference to calls for con- 
gregational meetings. It came down from the fathers,— a most 
unfortunate legacy. 

Full four years having passed since the erection of the house 
of worsLip, it was again resolved to make another effort to 
secure a pastor, and on the 25th of November, 1815, Rev. 
James Christie was called at a salary of |000, with a house and 
lot. His time w^as not to be divided with either ArgjMe or 
Easton. It was resolved to purchase of Joseph Safford the 
house then occupied by Mr. Boies, located on Main street, and 
just south of Mrs. Ingalls' residence; for this the sum of |800 
wns ])iii(l, and tliis became Ihe first parsonage, and the home 



^2 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

of Rev James Cliristie. the first pastor of tliis church. Mr. 
Chrisitie remained but two years. It was his firtrt charge. 
Twenty-six were added upon profession of faith, and a number 
by letter, during his ministry. He also introduced tlie West- 
minister Shorter Catechism as much easier tlian the Heidelberg. 

In 1820 (Feb. 29), Jacob D. Fonda was called. One-third of 
his time to be given to the church in Easton. Fie remained 
fifteen years, the longest pastorate enjoyed by this church since 
its organization down to this time. In 1830, Easton was given 
up, and he labored for this church ah)ne. The most interest- 
ing period of the church's history was during Mr. Fonda's 
ministr3^ 

In 1823 a memorial was sent to Consistory, requesting the 
privilege of occasionally admitting- preachers of other denomi- 
nations into the meeting house. The request was made in 
July, and a satisfactory reply given in December. The sub- 
stance of which I quote: "■ Resolred, That the Consistory are 
■willing that any person who has contributed to the building of 
the meeting house, with an understanding that he should have 
the right of inviting a person to preach in it, and who belongs 
to the congregation, and contributes to the support of the 
minister employed by the Consistory may, and of right ought 
to enjoy the privilege of occasionally admitting into the meet- 
ing house any ordained minister, or licensed preacher, cf good 
and regular standing, professing the doctrine of grace as taught 
in the gospel, at such times as it should not be regularly occu- 
pied for the ordered services of the Consistory; the Consistory 
agreeing never to appoint special meetings that might interfere 
with this privilege. 

In 1827 (December 28), Moses Cowan and John Hay with- 
drew from the church services. Their consciences being of- 
fended by the introduction of instrumental music at the public 
worship on the Sabbath, a bass viol having been brought in to 
assist the choir. Consistory sent a committee to talk with 
them, and referred the question to Classis for their opinion. 
But all to no purpose. The offended parties would not be 
reconciled. The instrument was banished, but as late as 1829, 
we find Consistory sending a committee to these men. Again, 
in 1830, resolutions were passed in Consistory regretting 
the occasion of offence, and sending another commissioner. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 53 

At this time Mr. Cowan returned to attendance upon the ser- 
vices of the church. But John Hay never forgot or forgave 
the bass viol, and remained away unreconciled. Though John 
was deaf, he was not blind. 

February 25th, 1830, was appointed a day of fasting and 
prayer, on account of the low state of religion existing in the 
community, and during this year eleven were added to the 
church upon profession of their faith; two of this number are 
still living in our community. 

The next year began a revival which seems to have been al- 
most continuous up to the last year of Mr. Fonda's ministry. 
In 1831, 134 persons were received into the membership of this 
church— 118 of these upon profession of their faith, and 110 of 
these between April 20th and June 12th. This was probably 
the most marked revival in all the history of our church. 
That 24th day of April when Wm. Mowry, Reuben :Norton and 
good old Solomon Place stood forth with fourteen others to 
receive the sacrament of baptism must have been one of deep 
and lasting impressions. We know it was, some of them have 
told us so, and some of you remain to bear witness of its influ- 
ence. Only one of all that company remains unto the present, 
and infirm old age prev^ents Diyon Tobias meeting with us 
to-night. 

Not two months later, June 12th, thirty-seven presented 
themselves for baptism, and in that list we find many names of 
sacied memory. From all that number, there cannot be more 
than three who gather with us at this service. We simply make 
historic record of these days; we would not dim their glory by 
our feeble words *of description. Such things are seen and 
felt— cannot be told by any tongue. In 1832, 39 were added, 
32 of these upon profession of faith. During this year a few 
feet were added to the rear of this building. The pulpit 
changed to its present position. The old square box pew 
taken out and replaced by the more modern ones. At this 
time the galleries projected further in toward the center of the 
house than at present. In 1833, 36; three of these by certificate; 
in 1834, 37; 3 by certificate. 

In 1833 (April, 4th) a resolution of grateful acknowledgment 
was passed in Consistory for the bequest "of a small farm to 
this church l)y Moses Cowan. The use of the farm was given 



54 1II8TOKY OF GREENWICH. 

to Mr. Fonda in lieu of $100 of his salary. On the 9th of 
October, 1885, on account of some tlifficulties in the church, 
Mr. ii'onda was released from his lo«2j and fruitful pastorate. 
During this j^ear an addition was made to our church lot, by 
purchase from John Cushman of a srrall parcel of land at a 
cost of $80. 

Inl83G (January 4th,) a call was made out for Rev. William 
Cannon, an agent for the missionary societ}^ and declined be- 
cause of his engagement with that society. The following 
August a call was sent to Benjamin Van Zandt, and he be- 
came pa.stor by ordination and installation September 33d. 
During this pastorate the old parsonage was sold and the pro- 
ceeds appropriated to the purchase of the one now belonging 
to this church. Nearly forty were added to the church, as the 
results of sixyea,rs' labor by Mr. Van Zandt. The most mem- 
orable thing in his ministry is the sad dissension of the first 
few months, marring our history and resulting in that separa- 
tion from which originated the Congrega^onal church. We 
only mention it in its historical connection, rejoicing that its 
bitterness has passed away and in the full faith that many who 
were thus parted here, have been brought together in that king- 
dom of clear and full light, where all see eye to eye and where 
all is love. « 

There soon began to be felt a need for a consistory room for 
the prayer meetings and smaller gatherings of the congregation 
and in 1841 it was resolved to make such a room in the base- 
ment The young ladies benevolent association reported a 
fund of $250, gathered and invested for that purpose. The 
next year the room was finished. 

Mr. Van Zandt resigned in 1842, and the next pastor. Rev. 
Mr. Morris, was called in February, 1843, and installed the fol- 
lowing April. During his ministry the assembly's shorter cat- 
echism was again substituted for the Heidleberg in the instruc- 
tion of the Sabbath school . 

In 1845, November 10, by request, a committee was appointed 
to arrange the basis of a union between this and the Congrega- 
tional church. Its results, if not all that was hoped, yet 
evinced a kindly and Christian spirit. It is summed up in one 
of the resolutions, a copy of which was sent to the consistory 
of this church. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 55 

'' llesolved. That although we do not deem it advisable to 
dissolve our church for the purpose of uniting with the Prot- 
estant Reformed Dutch Church, still we do most cheerfully 
tender our willingness to labor reciprocally with them in any 
moral and religious effort for the good of mankind and the 
glory of God." 

With the effort a few years later you are all familiar. The" 
last change and repairs were made in 1846, when the galleries 
were made narrower, a new pulpit made, the house papered 
and painted, and left as you see it to-day, minus the wear and 
tear of twenty-seven years. 

At the beginning of 1848 Rev. Mr. Morris was released from 
this charge and in a few days Rev. Uriah Marvin was called 
and was settled April 18th. Mr. Marvin prepared a brief 
sketch of the church history and a full list of all the members 
and 500 copies of this manual were printed. 

In 1854, April 9th, twenty four persons were added to the 
church upon confession of faith in Christ. Ten of these were 
baptized at that time. This w^as a renewal of the scenes during 
Mr. Fonda's pastorate. In December of this year the church 
received a gift of $100 from Miss Lydia Mowry. It was in- 
vested for the benefit of the church, and in 1859 appropriated 
to aid in purchasing the organ now in use here. Mr. Marvin 
resigned in 1855 and was released March 17th. 

In Juiip a call was sent to Rev. C. Van Santvoord, and in 
November he was installed, remaining only three years, leav- 
ing in August, 1858. A revival occurred during the last year 
of his ministry, and as its fruit eigiiteen were added to the 
church upon profession of faith. 

Rev. John Steele was called November 29th, and settled at 
the opening of the next year— 1859. A large number were re- 
ceived by letter during his ministry, which continued six 
years, until August 14, 1865. Only eight united upon profes 
sion of faith. In 1865 a legacy of $300 was received from Obe- 
diah Culver. It was during this year that our brethren of the 
Baptist church began work on their new church editice, and 
the use of this house was tendered them one half the Sabbath; 
but moving their old house to the common in front of the old 
h)t, they corftinued to use it until the new building was com- 
pleted. From 1865 to 1867 you were without a pastor. Rev. 
J\Ir. Mattoon declining vour invitation for liis services. Rev. 



56 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

A. G. Cochrane supplied the place during this interregnum. 
During this time a legacy was received from the estate of Miss 
Elizabeth Stewart, twelve shares of stock in our bank. 1867 
seems to have been a year of reyival. Twelve persons were 
added upon confession April 6th. In April Rev. David Van 
Horn was called and was settled in June. A change was now 
made in the mode of electing offlcer?, and was done by vote of 
the congregation This pastorate lasted but one year, Mr. Van 
Horn being released in June. Mr. lloyt w^as called in August, 
1868. and resigned in July 24, 1871. In February, 1872 your 
present pastor came and was ordained and installed May 15, 
1872. Ten pastors have been installed over this church. Six 
of them were here ordained to the gospel ministry, and gave 
to you the first and best years of their life work. 

We find no report in all the records which places our mem- 
bership so small as at present. In 1854-55, 112 families were 
reported, 450 persons in the congregation and nearly 200 mem- 
bers of the church. We have fallen off nearly three-fourlhs 
since that time. Such an attendance must have crowded all 
parts of this house. Now we seldom secure an attendance of 
150. 

About 1824 four men, each bearing on their shoulders a small 
tree, entered the church yard, and to-day four large elms 
put forth the annual promise of grateful shade and stand up- 
on our northern borders, a living monument to remind us of 
the zeal and the love of Dr. Holmes, Joseph Southworth, 
Moses Cowan, and Moses White. 

Thus briefly and hastily have we reviewed the records of this 
house. They are the fruit of that first meeting held April 5, 
1810, and belong to the history of this building in which we 
are now gathered. For these things we love it and will cher- 
ish its memory. 

Yet were it not for that unwritten history, that imperishable 
record burned into our hearts, the memory of things too sac- 
red to be entrusted to the cold pages of historical diaries, we 
might give up this house with few i egrets. We have loved it, 
because of mighty influences from the early services held with- 
in its walls, going forth through its portals, blessing and to 
bless the people who have dwelt about its sacred enclosure, 
sending out far and wide her sons and daughters with the light 
and joy of her life giving proclamation and praise."' 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 57 

The church has continued to the present time, prosperous 
and tiourishing, under the pastoral care of Mr. Smart, through 
whose energy and management has been built the beautiful 
church edifice in which the congregation now worship, and an 
engraving of which forms the frontispiece of this sketch. 

As noted in the sermon, in 1837, the agitation of the anti- 
slavery question made a disturbance in the church, which 
finally occasioned a division. This rupture resulted in the 
organization of the Congregational Church, whose history, up 
to 1860. we copy from the Historical Sketch given in the Manual 
of that church: 

"The Orthodox Congregational Church of Greenwich, as is 
the corporate name of the body, was organized March loth, 
1837, by a council composed of pastors and delegates from the 
nearest CoDgregational churches of the region, without refer- 
ence to state lines. It was a leading object with the founders 
to have a church accordmg to their idea of the primitive. 
Scriptural" plan,— one independent of everything beyond itself, 
and democratic in the equalitj^ and self-government of its 
members. And such a one was formed, and has been con- 
tinued, down to the present time, as being in both external 
relations and internal polity, just like all the Congregational 
churches of New England, except a portion of those in Con- 
necticut. But the founders sought, as an object of still greater 
importance, to represent that most genuine, yet much neglected 
type of religion, which has comprehensive, practical love for 
mankind in all their interests, both temporal and spiritual. 
This was felt to be the crying want of the land and of the 
Christian world, as evidenced iiot only by the too generally 
selfish and unbenevolent course in private life of professors of 
religion, but also by the existence, tolerance and even endorse- 
ment with Christianity, of huge evils like intemperance, slavery 
and war. It ii-^ about the oldest, if not indeed quite so, among 
the many Congregational churches of the kind, which the 
growing light and love of the age have brought into being, and 
especially in our cwn state; while it also belongs with the most 
prosperous of such. 

The original members of the organization were thirteen in 
number; and of these only four remain with us now, while the 
most of the others have gone the way of all the earth. The 



58 niSTOKY OK (iREEXWICII. 

church had a stormy infancy, from outward opposition in part, 
but more from factious elements entering into its membership. 
But at length all internal troubles ceased, from the exercise of 
the wholesome discipline of Christ's house. And then followed 
years of reigning peace, prosperity and happiness. This how- 
ever was not to continue always, as better than the most favored 
human lot; for next came what before w^as hardly known, 
bereavement, and such in a very grievous and repeated manner. 
Precious ones have passed away from us, among the founders, 
offtcers and members of the church, and not only those in old 
age, but oftener those in mid-age or youth. Several of them, 
who may w^ell be mentioned, as Mrs. Angehna G. Movvry, Mr. 
Charles H. Holmes and Mr. Erastus Bigelow, have left generous 
funded legacies to the church of their love, conditioned on its 
maintenance of the principles of humanity and reform. The 
various bequests made amount to several thousand dollars, 
aside from the waiting ones of the living. While the tasteful 
and pleasant church, with its connecting chapel, of a hundred 
feet in all from front to rear, and the contiguous parsonage, 
the whole standing on a roomy lot of nearly an acre, together 
with the organ and tower clock, have been provided at an out- 
lay in the sum total of more than |15,000. The property is 
held by trustees elected on the part of the Society, which is 
composed of all those statedly attending and supporting the 
church. In this does it differ from that of churches not of the 
independent order, as held by a ruling board of otficers in their 
own name, else by trustees for the use of an extended ecclesi- 
astical body. But in so well providing for itself, this church 
has not forgotten others in the great tield of the world, white 
and suffering for the harvest, nor to move in their behalf by 
way of liberal giving and ready doing. Indeed it. sustained a 
mission church in Kentucky, with the help of the people on 
the ground, for a time, or till a pro-slavery mob burned the 
house of worship and broke up the operations. While now it 
is assisting, to a considerable extent, that devoted and daunt- 
less man of the same state, Rev. John G Fee, in his worthy 
educational enterprises of religion and reform. It has also ever 
taken good care of the needy poor in its own circle, as keeping 
them from want and public charity. And thus from small 
beginnings, and again.st the tide of the world, as insisting on 



HISTOEY OF GREENWICH. 59 

the pure, whole gospel of Christ, does this band of Christians^ 
in view of results, ability, influence, and numbers even, though 
always a secondary thing with them, have much reason to 
acknowledge the blessing of Heaven, and to say, "Hitherto 
hath the Lord helped us." 

The cluu'ch adopted the following resolutions, bearing on the 
great moral questions of the day, viz : Intemperance, slavery 
and war. The first four were passed July 29th, 1837. The 
last two December 16th, 1857: 

Resolved, That in view of the evils produced by the use of 
intoxicating liquors as a beverage, it is the duty of every person, 
and very especially of every professor of the Christian Religion, 
entirely to abstain from using it themselves or giving it to 
others, and also from manufacturing the same, or trafficking in 
it, except for medicinal, mechanical, chemical, or religious 
purposes. 

Resolved, That to hold human beings as chattels personal, is 
a sin against God, and a palpable violation of the command of 
Jesus Clirist, to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

Resolved, Tliat as followers of Him who came to preach 
deliverance to the captive, it is our duty to "remember them 
that are in bonds as bound with them," and also to labor and 
pray for the speedy and entire abolition of slavery in this nation 
and throughout the world. 

Resolved, Tliat we cannot admit to our communion any per- 
son who uses, manufactures, or deals in, intoxicating liquors 
as a beverage, nor any slaveholder, nor any person who justifies 
slavery, or advocates its continued existence. 

Resolved, That the whole system of international warfare is 
unnatural and inhuman, that it is always wrong when waged 
anyhow in an aggressive way, and only justifiable, if ever, 
when waged in the strictest self-defence, and that difficulties 
between nations, irreconcilable lo their governments, should be 
settled by some form of arbitration or convention. 

Resolved, That the Churches of the meek and merciful Savior 
should debar from their membership and communion, all impli- 
cated in aggressive war, and that Christians should earnestly 
pray and labor to bring in the blessed reign on earth of univer- 
sal peace and love. 

The following were the original members of this church: 

Daniel Frost, jr., Roxanna Frost, Hiram Corliss, Susan Cor- 
liss, William H. Mowry, Angelina G. Mowry, Charles J. Gunn, 
Abigail Gunn, John Clark, Martha Clark, Roswell Grandy, 
James Watson, Lydia Watson, Edwin Wilmarth, Beulah 
Downs, Elizabeth Horton, Mary F. Corliss (Cook), Lucy 
Pattison. 



00 HISTORY OF GllKKXWrCII. 

The following are the clerg-ymen who lave served the church 
since its organization: 

John Smith, from June 1838, to Januarj^ 1841; E. C. 
Pritchett, frcra April 1841, to August 1845; Sabin McKinney, 
from November 1845, to December 1846; J. B. Grinnell, from 
June 1847, to November 1850; C. S. Shattuck, from November 
1850. 

Since Mr. Shattuck's pastorate, which closed in 1860, the 
church has been without a pastor most of the time. Mr. Pom- 
eroy, a Methodist clergyman, preached there for a time, after 
which, for a short season, Rev. Mr. Holmes was settled. Since 
the close of his labors there has been no stated preaching, but 
the reading of the sermons of distinguished preachers has been 
kept up until very recently. The church accomplished 
much good, in the course of its existence, bj'^ the advanced 
ground it took on the questions already adverted to. 

In 1872, a mission of the Episcopal Church was established 
ill the town, holding its services in the Congregational church 
building, under care of Rev. Mr. Walker, of Schuylerville. 
This mission has developed into a church, known as St. Paul's. 
The first Rector was the Rev. H. M. Blanchard, now^ of Ford- 
ham, N. y., a very able and excellent man. His successor, 
the present Rector, Rev. H. M. Smythe, is an excellent and 
exemplary clergyman, beloved by his people; and the church 
is flourishing under his pastoral care. 

The Roman Catholic Church was established in 1871, and 
was for several years under the charge of Rev. James Fedigan, 
an able and liberal man, who was much esteemed. He also had 
charge of the church in Cambridge. During his stay the old 
M. E. church was purchased by his society, moved to its pres- 
ent location, and repaired and otherwise fitted for the worship 
of his congregation. When he left. Rev. E. A. Donnelly 
assumed the charge of the parish, and has given very good 
satisfaction. 

Branch churches have been organized from the central 
churches of the Baptist and Methodist organizations in different 
portions of the town. One from Bottskill Baptist church, at 
Lake, in 1834, and another at Galcsville, now Middle Falls, in 
1837. We have not the space to do justice to the history of 
these churches, which have had experiences well worthy of 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 61 

record. Both have been well sustained. The Galesville church 
has suffered some from internal dissensions, but under the 
pastoral care of Rev. J. O. Mason, is at present in a prosperous 
condition. The other has been prosperous, and under the 
present charge of Rev. E. A. Clatk, is in good condition. 

Methodist branches have been established at East Greenwich 
and Battenville, which have flourished according to the 
prosperity of those villages. 

We have thus traced with some minuteness the history of 
these organizations, which have extended largely into the life 
of the town, and will be read with interest at least by some, 



62 IIISTOJIY OF OIlKEXWK'ir, 



CHAP. IV. 

Revolutionary Incidents — The Toion Organization— The Bald 
Mountain Lime Works— Develojyment of Business in the Town — 
Personal Ilisto'-y— War of 1812— Anti-Slavery and Anti-Masonic 
Excitement— The Academy— The Bcmk—Agricultur(d Society — 
Later Events— Centennial Celehration— Conclusion. 



It does not appear from the records in Alban}^ nor from any- 
thing are we able to learn, that there was much interest taken 
in the Revolutionary contest by the fathers of the town. Some 
few incidents, however, will be of interest. These are mostly 
connected with Baum's march to Bennington, of which we sub- 
join a brief sketch, in so far as it relates to matters of local 
interest, together with such other incidents as properly belong 
to this narration. 

As Burgoyne proceeded down the river, he found that Gen. 
Schuyler, although his forces were numerically weak, and not 
less so in the equipments that make up an efficient army, had 
placed all the barriers in the way of his advance that were 
possible. Earthworks, which are still visible, were thrown M\^ 
on the east side of the river, near the present state daiii, lo 
prevent the British from crossing at that point, which was 
deemed the most available spot to cross. From some cause, 
however, they were abandoned, and Baum crossed first to the 
island, which fronted them, and from this island to the east 
bank of the river, on to the land then held under patent by 
Gen. Phillip Scuyler, (but first occupied and cultivated by 
James Rogers, '-^d — now owned by Abram Yat(>s Rogers) near 



HISTORY OF OREETnTWICH. 63 

what is now called Clark's Mills, and there encamped. Col. 
Baiini sent several experienced scouts, guided by Indians, on 
the several trails leading through Cambridge to Bennington. 
One party passed along and up the Baltenkill, stopped at the 
liouse of Thomas Bentley, just above where Hannah Place now 
lives, and demanded refreshments. Mrs. Bentley, alone with two 
small children, quickly complied, and they passed on and 
forded the river at Center Falls, near the Tucker tavern stand, 
and crossed the hills to Cambridge. The other party of 
scouts crossed the river into Easton, and thence to Cambridge. 
Col. Baum, with the main body of his detachment, crossed 
the Battenkill near its mouth, and marched along its banks, on 
t)ie Easton side, to near Galesville, where they crossed and 
remained over night. In the morning they again crossed at 
Taylor's ford, on to what is known as the Washburne farm, 
and crossing the road between Washburne and Captain Jo. 
Safford's, went east on the John Safford place through the old 
Baldwin farm, through a small portion of the William Stewart 
farm, now owned by flarvey L. Potter, on the old Petteys 
place, by a spring and down a ravine to the house where David 
Burdick now lives. The army then passed below O. K. Rice's 
house, over to the Carver Rice place, past the house of Mrs. 
Coon, (afterwards Mrs. Grandy), now known as the Mc Arthur 
place, past Amasa Hill's into wiiat is now William Whipple's 
farm; through his orchard and into the meadow below his 
house, where a part of the old road, made of logs, can still be 
seen in the marshy grounds; across tlie present Cambridge 
road, near the place where C. P. Coy now lives, they turned 
and went over the hill, thiough the land now belonging to 
Horace Petteys, to the old tavern stand of Jonathan Pullman, 
where the army halted for a short time, and the officers bought 
eggs and milk. Merritt Hillman's house stands on the site of 
the old tavern stand, and is the same house. The ford on the 
Richardson farm, where the army crossed, is about a quarter 
of a mile west of the present ford. When the army passed 
through this town, three houses stood between this ford and 
landlord Pullman's; two on the Greenwich side of the river. 
The first, a small house, was about fifty rods from the old ford 
in the now Taylor meadow; the walled cellar, about nine feet 
s(|u;tr(', filled with rubbish and the bricks for chimnej^s, can 



64 IIISTOKY OF GliEEXWICJI. 

be seen by tl.e curious. The house was built of upright plank. 
The other, a house of more pretensions, was on the south side 
of the present road leading to the ford opposite the Washburne 
farm. 

John Potter, grandfather to Mrs. Sarah Frost, who now 
resides in the village of Greenwich, settled on a farm on the 
Salem road before the revolution. The house stood east of 
Hannah Place's— the cellar could be seen a few years ago. 
Potter was warned that Baum's army was coming and fled, 
taking with him his four children, two cows, one horse, and 
a yoke of oxen, and arrived at Hoosick the same night that the 
army did. They seized his property and took two of his sons 
prisoners. 

About the time of the passage of the army, a Mr. Rogers, 
also a grandfather of Mrs. Frost, settled on the farm just north 
of the William Tefft place, now occupied by Hill Miller and 
son. He set out back of his house the first apple orchard in 
the town, making a journey to Rhode Island to get the sprouts. 
His house stood where William Allen's house now stands. 

One of the scouting parties, having with it a number of 
Indians, had, two or three daj^s before the passage of the main 
body of the detachment, passed this way on the road to Ben- 
nington. On their route they captured and took with them 
Mrs. Hanna'h Coon, (later Mrs. Grandy) wife of Mr. Elisha 
Coon, a captain in the American militia, and who was then 
absent on duty. Mrs. Coon was then in a very delicate situa- 
tion, and such as required momentary attention; but notwith 
standing, she w^as compelled, as incapacitated as she was, to 
travel on foot with these ferocious savages and more brutal 
Tories. The sec5nd day after her capture her accmichment 
took place, where they halted for the night. In the morning 
after her confinement, she, with two other women who had 
also been captured, was again compelled to walk and carry her 
child, to the place where the troops under Colonel Baum 
encamped, previous to the action with the Americans under 
General Stark. Soon after the action commenced, she saw the 
Indians, she says, flying in all directions, and skulking behind 
trees, rocks, and other places of concealment. On the retreat 
of the Indians, after the defeat of Colonel Baum, she was taken 
with them, and soon met the reinforcements under Colonel 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 65 

Brayman; when she returned to camp and remained during 
the second battle, and was again compelled to travel on foot 
with them on their retreat to the place where they encamped 
during the night. Here, owing to her recent confinement and 
constant fatigue, she was taken sick, and whether it was on 
tliat account, or on account of the hurry and bustle the troops 
were in at the time, bemg in momentary expectation of pursuit 
by the Americans, she does not know, but she was left without 
aguard, and managed to conceal herself and child until they 
had departed, when she made her escape. After her escape, 
she with much ditliculty returned home, where she remained 
alone, (excepting her infant child) and in the midst of the 
wilderness, about three weeks, with nothing to subsist upon 
but a little salt pork, which had been concealed, and some old 
or seed cucumbers, that were left undisturbed in the garden, 
all their other provisions and even her cooking and other furni- 
ture having been taken aAvay by the Indians and Tories. The 
cucumbers she scraped the seeds from and peeled, then roasted 
them in the embers, and though she was fearful they might kill 
her, yet, she says, she thought she might as welt die by eating 
them as to starve to death -as the salt pork she could not eat 
alone. 

At the expiration of three weeks she was again taken by the 
Indians and Tories, who, she thinks, vented their malice par- 
ticularly upon her, on account of her husband having taken 
sides with the Americans, as they would often speak of it. At 
this time she was compelled to cross the river with them, in 
advance of the British army, and was taken as far as Stillwater, 
but managed to make her escape during the action of the 19th 
of September, having suffered much during the time. 

She lived at the time of her death, at the age of nearly one 
hundred years, about two miles from Greenwich village, on 
the Easton side of the river, as before mentioned, on what is 
now known as the McArthur place. 

There are many other incidents well authenticated that might 
be given, but we forbear as our space limits us. Numbers of 
our early settlers suffered from the war . Quite a large number 
fled to Bennington, only to get between the two armies, and 
suffer all that fear could make them suffer. The Teffts, the 
Dickinsons, the Rogers, and many others were among this 



66 HISTORY OF (HiEENWICir. 

number, but we must leave this portion of liistory for other 
themes. 

The hinds which now form the town were, as before stated, 
under the control of the township of Argyle, until the formal 
organization of tlie town in 1803. The whole of both towns 
was, prior to 1772, included in the boundaries of Albany county. 
Albany county took its name September 24th, 1664, and w^Iis 
one of the original counties, and was erected by a law of the 
first legislature ever held in the colony of New York, which 
convened November 1st, 1683. It comnrised about nine-tentiis 
of the lands of the state, and has been divided into forty eight 
counties in this state, together with Gloucester and Cumber- 
land counties of Vermont. March 12th, 1772, Charlotte county 
was created by law, embracing what are now Washington and 
Warren counties. In 1784, the name was changed to Wash- 
ington, and, in 1813. Warren was, by act of legislature, set off. 
The town of Green wicli was set off from Argyle by law April 
12th, 1803, and organized. Its first supervisor was Robert 
Perrigo, jr., and the first town clerk was .Eraspus Folsom. 
The postofiloe was also established with John Herrington as 
postmaster. 

While these events, relating to political aspects of the town, 
•were taking place, business was taking a start in various parts 
of the town. As early as 1788, lime had been burned at Bald 
M(mntain for building purposes, and in 1790 Samuel Dunham 
erected a kiln for the regular burning of the rock, which thus 
produces this useful commodity. Since that time the business" 
has gone on without intermission Gardner Thayer and Sam- 
uel Heath first gave a strong impetus to the business, wiiicli 
they puslied with considerable vigor. In 1852 Robert W- 
Lowber purchased the quarries and pushed the business with 
wonderful energy. He erected 11 kilns of the most approved 
kind, built elevated truck ways for the convenient transporta- 
tion of the newly quarried rock to the kilns. He also buill a 
most excellent macadamized road to the canal at an expense 
of about $30,000. In addition to this, he erected over one 
hundred tenements which form the hamlet now known as 
Lowberville, or Bald Mountain. The lime from his kilns 
always found a ready market, and under liis vigorous direction 
the place presented n lively and businesslike appearance 



HISTORY OF ftJIEENWICII. 67 

Unfortunately for the town, however, he was, in 1873, pre- 
vailed upon to sell his title to the kilns to the Glen's Falls 
Lime Company, who were bound by the contract to keep the 
works ill operation. They have, perhaps, fulfilled the letter 
of the contract, but certainly not the spirit of it, as for some 
time only one kiln has been kept burning. This stoppage of 
so large a portion of tlie works, has thrown many out of 
employment, and has given the hamlet, which Mr. Lowberhad 
built up about him, a deserted appearance. It is stated that 
the reason of the stoppage of the works is due to the fact that 
the Bald Mountain lime is of a quality so superior as to deaden 
the sale of the lime from the larger quarries in Glen's Falls. 
So they only furnish it for the work of hard finishing. But 
whatever mny be the cause the practical suspension of the 
works is tc be regretted. 

In 1849 tliese works were owned by Gamble, Tefft and 
Wright. A pottery which had been established near the moun- 
tain, by Lemuel Rowel, who was succeeded by O. V. Lewis, 
was then in successful operation, furnishing an excellent qual- 
it}"- of pottery. At what.is novv known as Clark's Mills, Messrs. 
Holmes ife Sliearer then carried on the lumber business. It is 
proper to state that this business has been carried on at this 
point almost continuously for a hundred years, and tradition 
(sustained to a considerable extent by records of other con- 
temporaneous facts) states that as earh' as 1731 the l)usiness 
was prosecuted at that point, and that these mills were the only 
ones that escaped burning by the French and Indians. In the 
neighborhood of the old Sybrani (Seybrandt) place, now owned 
by Horace Gavette, seven saw-mills w^ere in operation as early 
as 1790, on the ])rooks of that locality. 

Middle Falls, recently known as Galesville, formerly as 
Arkansaw, is located on both sides of the Battenkill. In 1788, 
Joseph Heath erected the first grist mill on the splendid fall at 
that point, but in the following year sold it to Abraham G. Lan- 
sing. Quite a settlement was made here at the time Lansing 
came. Two excellent grist mills, a woollen mill, a saw mill 
and plaster mill now partitilly utilize the water power and 
make the place prosperous. 

About 1815, the permanent settlement at Battenville began. 
Thomas McLean in connection with .Abel Dunham in that 



bo HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

year laid the foundation of tlie old woollen mill at that place. 
They failed and the property passed into the hands of Judge 
McLean. In 1826, his son-in law and Samuel Anthony con- 
verted it into a cotton mill. Soon after both McLean and 
Campbell died, and Anthony, who acted as agent, subsequently 
failed. In 1886, it was, for a while, run by a man named 
Graves, after which it again lay idle until 1842, when Thomas 
Truesdell from New York carried it on successfully for three 
or four years. Then a man named Moore oslensibl}^ bought it 
and soon after failed, and the Haskin Brothers bought it and 
run it successfully until it was burned, in 1868. In 1872, the 
Phoenix Paper Company built a paper mill on the site of the 
cotton mill and are doing a fair business. Messrs. William 
R. Hobbie and H. L. Mowry constitute the firm. Although 
the business does not require so many workmen as did the 
cotton mill, it renders the village quite prosperous. 

The village or hamlet known as Lake is nine miles northeast 
of Greenwich village, at the outlet of Cossayuna Lake. Corey's 
" Gazetteer of the county of Washington '' informs us that its 
first settlers were Alexander Beid, William Pratt, John Mc- 
Eachron, Robert McEachron, Walter Stewart, Tinsler and 
Mount. There is a grist-mill, tannery, flax-mill and store, and 
a church as elsewhere mentioned. 

The eastern portion of the town, as has been before shown, 
was the first portion settled, and East Greenwich was the first 
settlement in the town to take the importance of a village, 
There has been a store there continuously since 1794. Its 
first settlers were Archibald Livingston, William Black, Alex, 
ander Shaw, Roger Reid, and others. Some of these men we have 
heretofore mentioned. The store was, in early years, kept by 
James Shaw, who was a shrewd business man. It is related of 
him'that he owned a sawmill, which he carried on in connec- 
tion with his store. The dam got out of repair, and Mr. Shaw, 
who was crippled in his arms by paralysis, wishing to have it 
repaired, and not wishing the men to be dissatisfied at working 
in the water, walked into the stream, a bottle of gifi under each 
arm for their refreshment, and there remained (though it was 
an autumn day and bitter cold) until the job was completed 
On another occasion he had lent a saw and had forgotten the 
borrower. So he adopted the ruse of asking every one who 



HISTORY OF GKEENWICH. 69 

came to the store why lie did not return it, until at last he 
found the borrower, and recovered the saw again. The lumber 
business was early carried on quite extensively at this point, 
and the place was indifferently called East Greenwich, or 
" Slab City." It has been a thriving place. A saw-mill, grist- 
mill, sash and blind factory, and woollen factory have consti- 
tuted its manufacturing interests, and have made it prosperous. 
The place lias two stores, a church, a hotel, and blacksmith 
shop. The lumber busmess is still carried on quite extensively 
by William Walker. The village is situated eight miles east 
of Greenwich village. 

North Greenwich, about five miles north of Greenwich, was 
settled about 1800. Archibald McKallor, Phineas Langwor- 
thy, and a few others, first settled this section. The place is 
now called Reid's Corners, and has one store in which the 
postoffice is now kept by H. L. Reid. 

Center Falls was formerly a lumbering district, the fine fall 
in the Battenkill offering excellent facilities for sawing. It 
was originally settled by Smith Barber and Nathan Rogers, 
whom we have before mentioned. Soon after others came, 
and the place soon attained its growth. In later years a paper 
mill was carried on by Isaac G. Parker and others, but being 
burned down, the water power has since remained idle. It is 
now the property of D. A. Bullard, of Schuylerville. 

We return now to the history of the village of Greenwich. / 
It was incorporated as " Union Village " in the year 1809. This 
name was given it from the fact of its embracing a portion of 
the towns of Easton and Greenwich. We can hardly give a 
synopsis of the business developments here, and will only speak 
briefly of those which have been of primary importance. 
The cotton mill, which first brought the village into promi- 
nence, we have already referred to at some length. No other 
important manufacturing interest was developed until after the 
war of 1812, although a store was established by Eraspus 
Folsom, about the beginning of the century. 

In the war of 1812 our town took a deep interest, some 
sixty of its citizens going into active service ia the field. The 
books at the pension agency in Albany, show that about twenty 
of these veterans are draAving pensions at the present time. 



70 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Thus creditabl}^ did our fathers stand bj^ the countiy in its 
needs. 

Waldron Eddy and Edwin Andrews, in 1837, established a 
furnace for the manufacture of agricultural implements, and 
it has been uninterruptedly prosperous, tliough many changes 
have taken place in the tirm, which now" does a large business 
in the manufacture of goods of their own invention, under the 
style of Eddy, Reynolds, Langdon & Co. 

In 1848 was established the shoe business, which was soon 
the controlling industry of the place, the manufacture of cotton 
having been given up soon after Mr. Mowry's death, in 1845. 
The shoe business continued with one interruption until early 
in the year 1870, Avhen, owing to linancial difficulties, it was 
abandoned and its trade was divided between Troy, and Ben- 
nington Vt. 

In 1858, Messrs. Mowry, Masters and Andrews established 
the American Tea Tray*works, the only establishment of the 
kind in the countrj^ It has always had a fair business in the 
manufacture of the finer kinds of tea trays, servers, dust-pans, 
etc., which are decorated in the most artistic style, Japanned 
and perfectly finished. 

The Battenkill Knitting Works were established in 18G2, 
and, in 1870, were incorpcrated as the Pleasant Vale Mills. 
They are owned by William M. Palmer, Avho runs them, 
employing about fift}^ operatives, and doing a fair business. 

. In 1868, was commenced, by William Weaver and the (Jot- 
trell family, a Linen mill, which was completed, and most of 
the machinery placed in the building r^ady for use, when an 
unfortunate business complication, caused the enterprise to be 
abandoned. Mr. Weaver, who was familiar Nvitli many 
branches of manufacturing, in 1870, started a machine shop, 
which is still conducted by him under the name of the Green- 
wich Machine Avorks, where he manufactures several wood 
working machines of his own invention, which have secured 
for themselves a deservedly large sale. 

The I own has been prolific of neAvspnpers, twelve in all 
have been published here, viz. : " The Anti-Masonic Cham- 
pion," "The Banner," "The Union Village Courant," "The 
Union Village Democrat," " The Democratic Champion," 
"The Washinglon County Sentinel," "The Union Village 



HISTORY OF GEEEXWICH. 71 

Journal, '■ "The Clifimpion," " The Eagle," "The Union Vilkige 
Eagle," "The Union Village Democratic Standard," and the 
" People's Journal," all but the latter having been suspended 
prior to 1850. The "People's Journal" has been published 
uninterruptedly from its origin, 1842, by the following pub- 
lishers: John W. Curtis, H. C. Page, C. L. Allen, jr., W. J. 
King, E. P. Thurston, E. P. & D. P. Thurston, C. L. Allen, 
jr., Corliss & Allen, Meeker & Mandell, and the present pro- 
prietor, D. W. Mandell, maintaining a fair circulation and an 
excellent business. 

Want of space prevents us from giving any considerable 
detail of personal history. Already these pages largely exceed 
the number contemplated in the original plan of this work. 
We can, therefore, only speak briefly of those who have, either 
in Greenwich, or in the places to which they have gone, 
achieved distinction or eminence. These we shall speak of 
in connection with other matters of historical interest. 

Prominent among the men, who, by their energy and activity 
have been important in the community, is Dr. Hiram Corliss, 
who came to Greenwich in 1825, to establish himself in the 
medical profession. He is now, although more than an octo- 
genarian, still practising. Very soon after he came to Green- 
wich, in 1827, he commenced the agitation of the temperance 
question, and soon after, in 1833, the anti-slavery movement 
claimed his attention. He was one of the first abolitionists of 
the county and of the state. Elder Colver, of the Bottskill 
Baptist church, was one of his deciples in this movement, and 
from the meetings called and held by these two men, sprung 
that intense feeling on the slavery question, which made the 
town of Greenwich noted throughout the land as a prominent 
station on that line of march toward Canada and freedom, 
which was known as "The underground railroad." Many 
slaves who were concealed in the town were tracked by their 
owners, but not one who had reached this point, was ever 
taken back to slavery. Notable cases are related where slaves 
had escaped and arrived at Greenwich closely pursued, but so 
securely were they hidden that they were never found. John 
Salter, now a farmer living in Easton, was formerly a slave 
who ran away from his master. He intended to go to Canada, 
but Dr. Corliss and other leading abolitionists told him to stav 



72 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

and they would protect him. He accordingly staid, although 
for five years persistent attempts were made by slave-holders 
to abduct and carry him back into slavery. The movement 
carried with it the best element of the town's population. 
Active in the movement, in connection with Dr. Corliss, was 
Elder Colver, whom we have already mentioned; Mrs. 
A. C. Holmes, William H. Mowry, Leonard Gibbs, and many 
others. In the houses of all these persons might, at one time, 
have been found secret recesses or chambers, where slaves 
were hidden, and indeed several of them remain to this day. 
Leonard Gibbs, who was the legal adviser and constant coad- 
jutor of this coterie of fugitive slave law-breakers, was a law- 
yer of distinguished ability, and was brought prominently 
into public notice by his connection with the " Jerry Rescue " 
at Syracuse, which took place in 1848. Mr. Gibbs came to 
Greenwich from Granville in 1846. Up to the commencement 
of the war, efforts were made in the abolition movement. 
George Corliss, of Providence, R. I., whose name has recently 
been so much before the public, in connection with the con- 
struction of the immense centennial engine, which bears his 
name, is a son of Dr. Corliss, who is mentioned in this con- 
nection, as is also William Corliss, the inventor of the "Corliss 
Spherical Safe," and Rev. Albert H. Corliss of Lima, Livingston 
county, in this State. His daughter is the wife of Rev. Sabin 
McKinney, of Binghamton. 

The first lawyer of the town was Charles Ingalls, who was 
born in Andover, Mass., in the year 1763, graduated at Dart- 
mouth college in 1790, was admitted to the bar 1803, when he 
established his office at Union Village. In 1804 he was elected 
member of Assembly. Israel Williams and Joseph Boies 
prosecuted their legal studies under his instruction. He con- 
tinued practice until his death, in 1812. His son, Charles F. 
Ingalls, was born in 1795, was admitted to practice, Oct. 29, 
1819, was afterward appointed Judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas. After the expiration of his term, he continued his pro- 
fessional labors until his death, in 1870. His sons, Chas. R. 
and Thomas F. Ingalls, followed the legal profession; the 
former at Greenwich until 1860, when he removed to Troy and 
|)ractised as partner in the office of David L. Seymour, where 
he remained until elected Judge of the Supreme Court, in 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 73 

1868, to wliicli office he was recently re-elected without oppo- 
sition, both parties joining in liis nomination. Thomas F. 
lugalls, a man of fine natural abilities, practised until his 
death, in 1873. 

Joseph Boies, of whom we have spoken, commenced prac- 
tising law in Greenwich in 1813, and with the exception that 
he was, for a time, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and 
afterwards Surrogate, he practiced until his death, in 1866. 
His son, David Artemus Boies, entered the legal profession, 
which he still practises, having attained to an eminent position 
at the bar of Washington county. He has once been 
honored with the office of Surrogate, and is thoroughly 
esteemed by his brethren of the profession, and by community 
at large. 

The family of Eugene A. Cronin, who settled in Greenwich 
about 1825, have been among the successful people who have 
gone out from the town. Timothy C. Cronin is a lawyer of 
prominence in New York, and received the nomination as 
presidential elector, for his own district in Brooklyn, of one 
of the great political parties the present year, while his brother, 
Eugene A., received a similar nomination on the opposing 
ticket in Oregon. David E. has been prominent in newspaper 
matters, in Binghamton N. Y. 

One of the most eminent men the town has ever produced 
was Hon. Daniel Pratt, of Syracuse, who was born near Mc- 
Eachron's Lake, in the northwestern portion of the town, in 
1808. He graduated at Union College in 1833, and the same 
year moved to Onondaga county. He settled in Syracuse in 
1836, and in the following year was admitted to the bar, and 
commenced the practice of law. In 1843 he was, by Gov- 
ernor Bouck, appointed first Judge of Onondaga county 
In 1847 he was elected Justice of the Supreme Court, and was 
re-elected in 1851, and held the office until 1859, when he 
resumed practice, which he continued until he was elected 
Attorney General, in the fall of 1873. After the expiration of 
his term of office, he again resumed his practice in Syracuse, 
where he now lives. 

Governor Beveridge, of Illinois, was also a former resident 
of the town, and was brought up on the place adjoining that 
where Judge Pratt was born. We should be glad to give some 



74 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

details of his personal history, but our limited space forbids it. 
We shall now refer briefly to the more important institutions 
of the town: First among them is the scliool, Union Village 
Academy was established in 1836 — incorporated in 1889. Its 
first principal was James I. Lourie, and, it is safe to say, that 
the school lias never been more prosperous than under his 
management. A correspondent of the People's Journal iecent]y 
gave the following particulars: 

In the first three years of this institution, during which time 
Judge Lourie was principal, the following gentlemen were 
scholars: Daniel Anthony, Governor of the State of Kansas; 
Chester Arthur, collector of the port of New York; Henr\' A. 
Teift,- commissioner to establish postoffices in California, mem- 
ber of the Constitutional Convention, and Justice of the 
Supreme Court of that Stale; William Wallace Rockwell, 
member of assemlily from Saratoga county; Charles R. Ingalls, 
member of assembly, and Justice of the Supreme Court of this 
State; Patrick Mullon, Judge of Common Pleas, Ohio; Rev. 
James A. Tefl'l, known amnog his companions as Ticonderoga 
Tefft, missionary on the western eoast of Africa; and Joseph 
Potter, District Attorney, County Judge, and Justice of the 
Supreme Court of this State. 

Mr. Lourie, afterward studied law and was admitted to prac- 
tice. He was, at one time, by appointment, Judge of the 
Court of Common Pleas, and later was elected Surrogate of 
the county, both of which oflSces he filled acceptably to the 
people. He still continues the practice of his profession, and 
is an highly esteemed citizen. The school, since he left it, has 
been usually full and prosperous, and has had the services of 
many excellent teachers. In 1869, it was, under tUe law, 
changed to a graded free school; and although it has encoun- 
tered some opposition from heavy tax-payers, the people are 
benefited by the change. 

In 1838 Washington County Bank was established with a 
capital of $102,000, under the direction of a board of fifteen 
directors. Henry Holmes was the first president, and held 
that otfice until his death, in 1850." LeRoy Salisbury was the 
first cashier, but, dying at the end of the first year, Mr Edwin 
Andrews was elected to the office, which he still retains, to the 
satisfaction of the stockholders and community generally. The 
capital stock of the bank was increased to $150,000 in 1850, 
and again in 1857 to $202,000. In compliance with the law, it 



HISTORY O'F GREENWICH. 75 

became a national bank in 1865. It lias been uniformly 
prosperous. LeRoy Mowry is its present president. 

The Washington County Agricultural Society was organized 
in 1840, Henr}^ Holmes being its first president. His son, Wil- 
liam M. Holmes, was president of the society for one year, and 
has been for many years its treasurer, retaining the office at this 
date. The fairs of the society have been held every year from 
its commencement, except 1863, when it was postponed that 
its grounds might be used for the organization of the 123d 
regiment. 

In 1805, June 5th, Rising Star Lodge, F. & A. M., organized 
and had a prosperous existence until 1887, when, the great 
excitement concerning the Morgan disclosures, and his supposed 
murder, caused its downfall. On the 10th day of July, 1865, 
some of the Free Masons of the town organized Ashlar Lodge, 
No. 584, and it was instituted by the Grand Lodge, June 27, 
1866, and, notwithstanding some opposition, has been pros- 
perous and growing, and numbers among its hundred members 
many of our leading citizens. It has had but two Masters 
since its organization, Chas. H. Robinson being the first, occu- 
pying the position for two years, and Dr. S. L. Stillman, who 
now officiates. 

Union Village Lady, No. 122. I. O. of O. F., was established 
by charter from the Grand Lodge, August 15, 1844, and 
deceased October 12, 1857. Was reorganized November 15, 
1870, and resumed its charter August 24, 1871, and is now in 
good condition. 

In 1864 the survey was made for the Greenwich & Johnson- 
ville iiailroad. In 1867 the first ground was broken, and the 
road was completed August 31, 1870. Mr. John Lee was the 
first president, retaining the office until his death, which 
occurred in 1870. Since that lime Mr. William M. Holmes has 
been president, Edwin Andrews secretary and treasurer,. and 
H, li. Warner superintendent.: During the entire six years of 
its operation, it has had an excellent freight business, with fair 
passenger traffic. 

At the commencement of the war, in 1861, Greenwich 
responded nobly, furnishing 231 men for whom the town was 
credited. There is no doubt that the whole numberreached 
300. One hundred Greenwich volunteers were killed in battle 



76 HISTOEY OF G-REENWICn. 

or died in service. The town was represented in about twenty- 
regiments, altliougli tlie greater number were in the 123d, 93d, 
30th and 22d regiments of New York volunteers. The town 
expended for war purpose's $88,074 82, and furnished the fol- 
lowing commisioned officers: Lt. Colonel E.- Franklin Norton; 
Captain Alonzo Trueman Mason; Captain Abram Reynolds; 
Captain James Cowan Shaw, and Brevet-Captain George 
Robinson. Lt. Colonel Norton was the only commissioned 
officer who lost his life in battle. He died May 12, as brave 
men die, from wounds received at the battle of Chancellors- 
ville. May 1, 1863. The 123d regiment, in which most of our 
volunteers were found, participated in twenty battles, and their 
regimental flag, laid away in the military archives of the State, 
bears evidence in its tattered folds of the true hearts that fol- 
lowed where it lead, "even to the jaws of death, even to the 
mouth of hell." Gratefully the town received them when 
they returned tattered and worn from the fields of bloody 
victory. Gratefully our tears should water the graves of the 
fallen. 

Quite recently Bald Mountain was made a U. S. signal sta- 
tion, and observations are occasionally taken therefrom by 
officers of the U. S. signal seivice. 

In 1868 the People's Bank was started, with Edwin Wil- 
marth as cashier; and, under his management, would haye 
been successful, but for complications he was unable to con- 
trol. The project was finally abandoned in 1872. The building 
is now occupied as a store room by Mr. N. H. Wing. 

In 1870, William Whiteside Hill completed the handsome 
block which bears his name, and which has beon generally 
occupied by leading merchants of the place. 

There is much more of interest which we would gladly men- 
tion in this connection, but our space will not permit it. We 
must briefly epitomise the celebration of the nation's centen- 
nial anniversary, which was observed here, and bring this 
narration to a close. 

The people of the town deeming it proper that there should 
be an appropriate celebration of the nation's centennial anni- 
versary, made preparations commensurate with the importance 
of the occasion, and heralded its dawn with the boomuig of 
cannon and the riniinu- of bell«. In the early morning was 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 77 

formed a parade of masked invincibles, who paraded the streets 
creatins laughter and mirth.. The afternoon saw the forma- 
tion of a grand civic procession, consisting of a band, the fire 
companies of Cambridge and Greenwicli, a fine cavalcade, 
carriages for leading citizens and participants in the day's fes- 
tivities, and a beautiful canopied car, in which thirteen young 
ladies, arrayed to represent the different states, were seated. 
The parade commenced about two o'clock, and was to close by 
stopping at Mowry's park, where a platform had been built 
and arrangements made for the seating of the immense con- 
course of people who had gathered to witness the proceedings 
of the day. Unfortunately, however, a severe thunder storm 
came up, and while on the march the procession was scattered, 
and the Marshalls, Major Henry Gray, James O. Lavake and 
Captain Abram lieynolds, were unable again to organize it. 
The scattered people, however, gathered at tl:e Methodist 
church, which was kindly thrown open by the pastor. Rev. H. 
F. Austin. Excellent music was furnished by a glee club and 
chorus, trained for the purpose by Prof. R. A. Spalding. The 
Declaration of Independence w^as read by Hon. Samuel 
Thomas. The excellent oration, which forms the appendix of 
this work, was delivered by Hon. D. A. Boies. The after- 
noon's exercises at the church were closed by the reading of 
the histcrical sketch which forms the frame-work of this book. 
The usual athletic sports followed these exercises, and fire- 
works concluded the day's exercises. To the committee, A. 
H. Miller, A. H. Knapp. W. R. Hobble, Merritt Mo wry, R. A. 
Spalding, Oscar Eddy, E. D. Wilcox, D. T. Ensign, James 
Skiff, James White, W. T. Moore and E. P. Thurston the 
credit of the day's success is mainly due. The celebration 
was worthy of the day and of the occasion. 

And now, as we draw this narration to a close, we will sim- 
ply say, that its completion has been to us a pleasure, and we 
can only regret that, out of a large amount of material, we have 
been able to present so little of the detail of our town's most 
interesting history. A volume of five times the size of this 
might have enabled us to justly delineate the facts of the past 
of the town of Greenwich; but while we feel that in this work 
but little has been done, we believe that little been has done cor- 
rectly, as we know it has been done conscientiously. Should 



78 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

this, our first attempt at the compilation of historical facts, 
prove acceptable to the people of the town, we may at a future 
time, present a more elaborate and particular history. Trusting 
that the little we have done may develop a desire for a more 
perfect work, we will add to what we have written only the 
word, 



FINIS, 



APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX. 



Address Delivered by Hon. D. A. Boies, before the Citi- 
zens of Greenwich and Vicinity at their Celebration of 
the Nation's Centennial Anniversary, July 4th, 1876. 

Fellow Citizens. —We have met together on a most happy 
and auspicious occasion. On an occasion unexampled and un- 
paralleled in the history of nations. You may search the long 
annals of history in vain, for an occasion like this. We are 
met to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the birth-day 
of this great Republic. With most of the great nations of the 
world, it is difficult, if not impossible, to fix upon the exact 
period of their origin as nations. With some, their history 
runs back into the region of myth and fable. With others, 
their origin was small and they grew by gradual accessions until 
they became great nations. But, as in the fanciful mythology 
of ancient Greece, it was said that Mercury sprang lull armed 
and panoplied from the cleft head of Jupiter, so did our nation 
on the fourth day of July, 1776, step forth into the family of 
nations, in the vigor and strength of national youth, and now, 
to-day, while yet comparatively in the fresh bloom and grow- 
ing strength of early manhood, America stands in the front 
rank of the great nations of the world. And now, on this 
pleasant mid-summer day, all over the broad surface of tJiis 
mighty empire, from the pine forests of Maine and where the 



II APPEXDIX. 

cold waves of the Northern Atlantic are dashed upon her rock- 
ribbed coasts, to where the tepid waters of the Great Pacitic 
Sea lave the strands of auriferous California; in the great city 
where our national independence was tirst proclaimed to the 
world; in the great emporium and metropolis of the New 
World, and in the other cities and rural villages of our land, 
our people are gathered to celebrate by appropriate ceremonies 
this great centennial anniversary of our nation's birth. 

As noble old John Adams predicted, the wdioleland resounds 
with the booming: of cannon, the ringing of bells, the explo- 
sions of poAvder, and the evening sky will be radiant with the 
glare of bonfires and torchlights and the scintillations of flre- 
w^orks and the welkin ring with the shouts of Freemen. 

But what is the significance of this great anniversary? 

The American Revolution, viewed merely as a successful 
Avar, is not entitled to the consideration which we attach to it. 
It is true great courage and boldness were exhibited in a few 
feeble colonies, pitting themselves against and boldly defying 
the prowess of one of the greatest naval and military powers of 
the age; and our forefathers, during that seven years' war, 
"the times that tried men's souls," exhibited courage, patience, 
endurance, patriotism, and many of the best qualities of hu- 
manity—and they were men of whom we might w^ell be proud 
as the founders of our nation. 

But other people have exhibited these qualities in as great 
a degree, and the battles of the Revolution have been dvvarfeii 
almost into skirmishes in comparison with the might}^ and 
terrific battles of our great Rebellion. 

The significance and importance of the American Revolution 
depend upon the principles upon which it was based. Daniel 
Webster said that our forefathers w^ent to war upon a preamble. 
But what a preamble w^as that? 

Prior to that time the generall}^ accepted doctrine was that 
Kings derived from God the right to govern the people. It 
was called the divine right of Kings. Some speculative writert* 
had questioned this right, and England, at the time of her 
great rebellion, established a commonwealth, but they soon 
substituted a protector with more than kingly power, in place 
of a king, and at Cromwell's death they went back to tlie scep- 
tre and the crown. 



APPKT^DIX. Ill 

But llie declaration of American Independence startled the 
nations by enunciating with wonderful clearness and force the 
general cardinal principle of politics : "That governments 
were instituted among men to secure their unalienable rights, 
and all their just powers are derived from the consent of (lie gov- 
ernecV That the people are the fountam and source of all 
po,vver, and the government has only those powers which the 
people see fit to confer upon it. It was the very opposite of 
the doctrine which had theretofore obtained : That the Govern- 
ment, or King or Emperor, was the source and fountain of 
power, and the people had only Xho^Q privileges which the govern- 
ing power saw fit to confer upon them. Never was a war waged 
in a nobler cause, and it was successful. Our independence 
was secured; and the nobler principle for which our fathers 
fought, has, during the century, spread its influence through- 
out the civilized world. 

It had a great influence upon, if it did not produce, the great 
French Revolution; and, although the world was shocked and 
horrified at the insane butcheries of Robespierre and his brutal 
coadjutors, and although the French Republic was changed 
into a personal despotism by the treachery and ambition of the 
great Napoleon, yet with all its evils the French Revolution, 
on the whole, was a blessing to France and to the world; and 
now, at this day, the great doctrine of the people's right, the 
foundation principle of the American Declaration has become 
the accepted and accredited belief of the educated and civilized 
portions of mankind. 

Never did a nation have a nobler cause, never was a war 
waged for a nobler principle, and we have just reason to be 
proud of our origin as a nation. 

This is more than an ordinary anniversary; it is the Centen- 
nial, or the celebration of the hundredth anniversary of our 
nation. 

At such a time it is natural and appropriate to throw our 
minds back to the beginning of the century, and to compare 
and contrast the condition of things then existing with those 
that now exist. 

The appropriate limits of the occasion will not permit a gen- 
eral survey of this held. 1 can refer only to a few points. 



IV APPENDIX. 

We have met here to-day. on this beautiful spot, surrounded 
on every side by the comforts, the conveniences, the refinements 
and even manj'^ of the luxuries of the higher civilization. Tem- 
ples dedicated to the worship of God, lift their tall and shapely 
spires to the skies, and the summer breeze wafts through these 
valleys and over these hill tops the sweet melody of their 
musical bells. 

Education, free to all, is brought almost to every man's door, 
without money and without price. 

The homes of our people are the abodes of comfort, happi- 
ness and peace. Every man can sit down under his own vine 
and fig-tree, with none to molest or make him afraid. We fear 
no midnight raid of the skulking savage, nor the ravages of any 
foreign foe. For almost a century the quiet air of old Wash- 
ington has not been vexed by the roar of hostile cannon, nor 
her soil been pressed by the footsteps of a foe. "Verily, our 
lines have fallen to us in pleasant places and we have a goodly 
heritage. " 

One hundred years ago the place where we are now assembled 
was a dense virgin forest. 

Prior to the Revolution there were a few settlements in this 
county, a small one at Skeensborough, now Whitehall ; a few 
scattering farms or lots had been occupied in the Argyle Patent; 
there was quite a settlement in Salem, and somewhat of a set- 
tlement in Cambridge. There were a few settlers scattered 
along the banks of the Hudson, perhaps a few families at Gales- 
ville or in its vicinity, and, as appears by the statistics which 
Mr. Thurston, our historian, has collected, somewhat of a set- 
tlement of Scotch people at or near East Greenwich. But, as 
a whole, I have no doubt that the territory now embraced 
within the present limits of Washington county might properly 
be said to be a wilderness. 

If one hundred years ago to day, a person had stood upon the 
summit of Willard's Mountain, the highest point in this section 
of country, I have no doubt that his eye would have, ranged 
over an unbroken forest, with not a house or even a building 
visible. It was not until after the close of the Revolution that 
settlers began to move into the county to any great extent, but 
then immigration, principally from Rhode Island, Connecticut 
and Massachusetts, became rapid and extensive. I will not, 



APPENDIX. V 

however, encroach upon the province of our town historian. 

Fellow citizens, We are proud and happy to call ourselves 
citizens of the great State of New York. We are proud to 
call it in the magniloquent language in w^hich Americans are 
too prone to indulge, the Empire State of this great Republic; 
and it \^ facile prindps -e?iB,\\y the first in this great sisterhood 
of States— first in population, first in wealth and resources, 
first in commerce and first in influence. But, at the time of 
the Revolution, New York occupied no such commanding po- 
sition among her sister colonies. There were three colonies in 
advance of her. In 1776 the population of the four leading 
colonies (exclusive of slavery) was as follows: 

Massachusetts 353,000 

Pennsylvania 341,000 

Virginia 300,000 

New York 238,000 

Indeed little Connecticut lacked only 36,000 of equaling New 
York. 

There w^ere 500,000 slaves in the colonies in 1776, 280,000 of 
which (more than one-half) belonged to Virginia. If these 
were added to the white population of Virginia, it w^ould make 
580,000— thus making Virginia far in advance of either of the 
others and much more than double the population of New 
York. 

In 1776, Philadelphia, New York and Boston were the only 
places worthy to be called cities. Philadelphia had about 
30,000 inhabitants. New York about 25,000, and Boston under 
20,000. 

But what is the condition of things at the^nd of the century? 
The State of New^ York has become a nation by itself. By the 
State census of 1812 its population has become 4,704,394. I do 
not know what the population of Pennsylvania is at present 
By the United States census of 1870 her population was 
3,421,791, and that of New York was 4,382,759. Virginia and 
West Virginia together, comprising the old State of Virginia, 
in 1870 had a population of 1,667,177, and Massachusetts, in 
1875, had a population of 1,651,902. 

The thirteen colonies at the time of the declaration of Inde 
pendence had a population of 2,243,000, exclusive of slaves, 
and about 500,000 slaves. It will thus be seen that at the pres- 



VI APPENDIX. 

ent time New York alone has a population more than double 
that of all the colonies (exclusive of slaves) at t)ie time of the 
Revolution, and in vvealth, commerce, and in resources, it 
exceeds that of all the colonics in far greater proportions. 

The city of New York has become the great city of the New 
World, and is the third city of the civilized world. London 
and Paris only are ahead of it, and in a few years I have no 
doubt it will stand second only to London as far as population 
is concerned. In speaking of the population of New York, 
Brooklyn, Jersey City and other suburbs should be embraced. 
A city is a geographical fact; it is a collection of inhabitants 
living contiguous to each other, and the fact that different por- 
tions of the city are under different- municipal or other govern- 
ments, does not alter the geographical fact that it is one city. 
Suppose Paris should be divided and placed under two muni- 
cipal governments, and that portion on the north side of the 
Seine should be called the city of Paris, and that on the south 
side should be called the city of Napoleon, that would not 
alter the geographical fact that there was the great world- 
renowned city of Paris, the most magnificent city it the world, 
with a population of about two millions. Therefore, in speak- 
ing of the population of our great metropolis, and comparing 
it with the great cities of the world, it suburbs should be 
embraced, and the population of New York and its suburbs 
now amounts to at least 1,750,000. 

And is it not wonderful that that little tovrn, scarcely more 
than a village in 1776, scattered over the southern end of the 
Island of New York, below where now are the new post office 
and the Astor House, should now within a century have 
become the metropolis of the New World, and the third city 
in population in the world, and within a few years I have no 
doubt that it will have exceeded in population the magnificent 
metropolis of France, and will stand second only to wonderful 
London. 

Henry Clay said in one of his speeches, more than thirty 
years ago, that the city of Cincinnati was to him an enigma. 
That he could not account for its wonderful growth and the 
proportions which it had attained. 

I am not puzzled with Cincinnati, ])ut I confess that London 
is to me a perfect wonder. It has a population of nearly three 



APPENDIX. VII 

millions and a half, and exceeds in population, in wealth, in 
commerce, in 'solidity, any city which ever existed on this 
planet, not excepting Rome in her palmiest days of pride and 
power, when mistress of the world. That such a city can be 
sustained on such a comparatively small island as Great Britain, 
which on a map of the world occupies so small a space as to be 
almost imperceptible, and sprinkled all over with other cities, 
several of them large enough, and rich enough, and magnifi- 
cent enough to be worthy to be capitals of powerful states, is, 
indeed, most wonderful. It shows what is possible to an intel- 
ligent, enterprising and free people, and America may well be 
proud that she has sprung from a people capable of such 
achievements. But although London has such an advance, yet 
New York has some advantages in the race. 

America, by the end of another century, will in all probabil- 
ity have a population of over 100,000,000 and her greatness will 
be tributary to her great commercial city. The harbor of New 
York is one of the best in the world; it can shelter the fleets of 
the world in its ample arms. And it certainly does not appear 
to be a wild and crazy fancy to predict, that one who should 
a century hence sail up the bay of New York, would see those 
waters surrounded by the magnificence and splendor of the 
mightiest city on the globe. 

I have not time on this occasion, to review the progress 
which America has made during the century in the several 
departments of human effort. I shall but briefly allude to a 
few topics. 

No nation can occupy an estimable position in history, with- 
out having a worthy national literature. Look at little Greece, 
occupying so small a portion of the earth's surface; her magnifi- 
cent and wonderful literature, has for more than two thousand 
years exercised a controlling influence in the world of thought, 
and immortalized her name in history. The authors of Eng- 
land and Scotland have shed a brighter lustre upon their 
names, than all the achievements of their armies and navies 
have produced. 

How, then, has America progressed during the century in 
this branch of human effort? Prior to the Revolution, Amer- 
ica had no literature. She had but one writer, Jonathan 
EdwarrV, who was known in Europe, and he was only known 



VIII APPENDIX. 

by his treatise on the will. Franklin was knc.wn amon^ the 
savants of Europe, but chiefly by reason of his scientiflc 
experience and experiments, rather than from any literary pro- 
duction. Less than half a century ago, Blackwood tauntingly 
asked, " Who reads an American book?" But such a question is 
no longer asked. Within the last fifty years we have made such 
rapid advances, that we have now a very respectable national 
literature. 

In poetry — which many deem the highest development of 
the human intellect — we have none who can rank with the 
great monarchs of song, with Homer and Dante, with Sliaks- 
peare and Milton. But such prodigies are like angels' visits, 
few and far betw^een. But we have poets now living who can 
well compare with the living poets of Great Britain and the 
continent. Bryant, Whittier, Longfellow and others, have 
shed bright lustre on the American name. 

In History, Bancroft, Prescott, Motley, Irving and others, 
occupy an honorable position among the historians of the 
present age, and in the other departments of literary effort, 
our progress has been as rapid and satisfactory as, under our 
circumstances, could have been reasonably anticipated, and we 
may well expect a much greater advancement in the future. 

The number of educated men and w^omen, and especially of 
those who make literature a profession, is much greater than 
at any other period of our history, and is constantly increasing; 
and I have no doubt that at tlie close of another century our 
country will occupy as proud and commanding a position in 
the republic of letters, as she will then occup}?- in the family of 
nations. 

The mechanical progress of the last century has been some, 
thing wonderful. As one writer has said, compared with its 
predecessors, it appears rataer as a contrast than as a develop- 
ment. It appeare almost to have leaped into existence. This 
appears also to be almost literally true of Chemistry, Electric- 
ity, Galvanism, Magnetism and Geology. 

In Locomotion the change is marvehms. A member of the 
Provincial Congress in 1776, consumed fifteen daj's in going 
from Boston to Philadelphia. Now mark the contrast. About 
a month ago a party of singers took seats in a palace-car in the 



APPENDIX. IX 

city of New York, glided rapidly up die valleys of the Hud- 
son and the Mohawk, dashed through the cities of Western 
New York, skirted the shores of the great lakes, stopped for a 
breathing space in Chictigo, that almost magical city of the 
West, springing, phoenix-like, from its own ashes in greater 
beauty and strength than before, then on, on, on again with 
the speed of the wind across the prairies of Illinois and Iowa, 
across the Mississipi and Missouri, across the great plains to 
the Rocky Mountains — the backbone of the continent — then, 
with scarcely diminished speed, up and over those mighty 
mountains, down through the valley of the great salt sea, 
across the great alkaline desert, and over the mountains of 
Nevada, and finally from the top of the coast range mountains 
of California, settling down like a bird upon the shore of the 
Pacific, in the busy and brilliant city of San Francisco, which 
has sprung into existence within the remembrance of men of 
less than middle age, and which has now a population far 
exceeding that of all the cities of the colonies one hundred 
years ago. This journey across the continent was accomplished 
in eighty hours and twenty minutes, three and one-third days. 
Who could have dreamed of such a thing one hundred years 
ago ? One who should then have predicted it would have been 
deemed a lunatic. 

But this is not the greatest wonder yet of modern times. As 
soon as those passengers reached San Francisco, they found in 
the morning papers of that day a particular account of their 
trip from the time they started at New York until they set foot 
on the shore of the Pacific, and also that morning's news in 
New York, more than three thousand mileg away ; and also an 
account of what had transpired that morning in London and 
Paris, and all over Europe and the East. Indeed, as the light 
ning upon the telegraph wires moves westward much faster 
than the earth moves eastward upon its axis, the singular phe- 
nomenon is exhibited of news moving; westward and reaching 
its destination sooner than the time when it was sent. Thus 
when it is noon at New York, it is 8:20 in the forenoon at San 
Francisco ; and a telegram sent from New York at noon on 
July 4tli, 1876, will reach San Francisco, say at 8:30 a. m., of 
July 4th, 1876, that is, about 3^ hours before it was sent. 



X APPENDIX. 

The telegraph is indeed a wonderful invention, and to many 
it seems inexplicable ; and yet the principle on which it operates 
is very simple, like almost all great inveniions, and after it 
was discovered, it seemed singular that it was not discovered 
before it was. The whole principle of this wonderful inven 
tion is this : B}-^ passing a current of electricity or galvanism 
around a piece of soft iron you make it a magnet; by breaking 
the circuit it ceases to be a magnet. 'Thus if you have a bat- 
tery here, powerful enough, you can send a current of elec- 
tricity around a piece of iron at San Francisco and by playing 
upon a key here, you can magnetize and demagnetize a piece 
of iron there; and as that plays upon the key there you can 
make the sounds there which can be understood like spoken 
language. The machinery of the telegraph used to be compli- 
cated by the use of clock-work to move a strip of paper upon 
which the characters of the telegraphic alphabet were marked ; 
but most of our operators have become so expert that they can 
read the click of the machine without the use of paper, and 
can thus talk to each other across the continent, and across and 
under the ocean, as if they were conversing face to face. Thus 
the anticipations of Shakspeare, that wonderful genius, who 
seemed to have anticipated almost every thought that has ever 
passed through a human mind, has been more than realized. 
He put into the mouth of Puck the remark, " I will put a 
girdle round the earth in twenty minutes." 

The advancement in the mechanical arts has been so won- 
derful durmg the last century that it does not appear possible 
that an equal advance could be made in the centurj^ to come ; 
but the limit of the capacity of the human mind cannot be 
measured, and it is .impossible to predict what it may not yet 
acccomplish. 

The most cursory survey of the history of our country dur- 
ing the century, requires some allusion to the subject of 
slavery. 

Slavery always had an important influence upon the politics 
of the Republic, and for more than a quarter of a centur}^ 
prior to its abolition, it was the controlling power in the land. 

It may not be generally known that at the time of the revo- 
lution, the number of slaves in proportion to the number of 
the white inhabitants was greater than it was when slavery 



APPENDIX. XI 

ceased. In 1776, there were in the colonies 500,000 slaves, out 
of a total population of about 2,750,000, a little less than one- 
fifth ; whereas the census of 1860, the last census taken 
before the abrogation of slavery, showed out of a total popu- 
lation of 31,148,047, 3,950,531 slaves— a trifle over one-eighth 
slaves. Thus notice upon what a monstrous inconsistency our 
government was founded. 

Our forefathers appealed to the judgment of the world, and 
justified their rebellion against the mother country upon the 
noble principles so clearly and forcibly portrayed by Jefferson 
in the Declaration of Independence, " that all men are created 
equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain 
inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit 
of happiness ; that to secure these rights, governments are 
instituted among men, deriving their j^/«< powers from the consent 
of the gomrned;' and upon that platform the seven years' war 
of the Revolution was waged and our independence secured ; 
and yet, at that very time, one out of every fi\)e of the inhabi- 
tants of our country was bereft of every right of man, stripped 
even of the attributes of manhood, in law was changed into a 
chattel and a thing. 

It should be said in extenuation, that our fathers did not, in 
ZQXiQrA\ justify and defend slavery : they apologized for it as a 
necessary evil, bequeathed to them by their ancestors, and they 
fondly hoped that it would be gradually abolished. Many of 
the best men of that period denounced it, and Jefferson said 
that he trembled for his country when he remembered that God 
was just. 

But the hopes of the best patriots were doomed to disap- 
pointment. The invention of the Cotton Gin by Eli Whitney, 
and other mechanical inventions, produced a wonderful 
increase in the cultivation of cotton and in the value of slave 
property, and cotton became king, and for years the slave- 
holding influence became the controlling political power in the 
country. But such a state of things could not last. 

" Truth crushed to earth shall rise again, 
The eternal years of God are her's^ 

But error wounded, writhes in pain, 
And dies amid its worshippers." 



XII APPENDIX. 

Slavery was a foul and damning blot upon our national 
escutcheon. As Lord Brougham said, "It was a wild and 
wicked jDhantasj^, that man can hold property in man." 

It w^as an anomaly, a monstrosity, a living lie, a piece of the 
dark ages, amid the light and intelligence and civilization of 
the nineteenth century, and could not live. It became ambi- 
tious and aggressive, and strove to subject the whole nation to 
its sway. It was destroyed, but it was wiped out in fire, blood 
and tears. What a price we paid for the sins of our fathers 
and ourselves. Slavery was so interwoven with our whole 
political, social, business and religious systems, that it could 
not be wrenched out without fearful dislocation. But great as 
was the price, the consideration was not inadequate. 

Formerly, although w^e had much of which we might justly 
feel proud, yet slavery was a source of mortification and 
shame. If in Europe an American were upholding the princi- 
ples of a republican government against the supporters of a 
monarchy, the monarchist had but to utter in scorn and con- 
tempt one single word, "slavery," and the American had to 
drop his head in humiliation and sorrow. But now that foul 
blot, that shameful inconsistency is removed and we can hold 
our heads erect in conscious pride, and as the citizen of ancient 
Rome used to exclaim as a talisman and protection all over the 
then civilized world, "lam a Roman citizen," so now, any 
member of our great republic can exclaim the world over, 
with true respect and with no tinge of shame upon his cheek, 
" I am an American citizen." 

The moment that a slave sets his foot upon the free soil of 
America his fetters drop, and her free air is breathed only by 
free men. 

We can now repeat with truth, and not as a lie, the couplet 
of Drake : 

" With freedom's soil beneath our feet, 
And freedom's banner streaming o'er us." 

There is a tendency in human nature to exaggerate the dis- 
tant and the past, and to depreciate the present and the familiar. 
Campbell, one of the sweetest of British poets has sung : 
" 'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view, 

' And robes the mountain in its azure hue " 

And as long ago as when the book of Job was written, prob- 



APPEN^DIX. XIII 

ably the oldest written composition extant, tlie same sentiment 
is put into the mouth of one of tlie characters and personages 
in the boolc, but not as the opinion of the writer, that the old 
times were better than the new. And it is now the case, as it 
has been for centuries, that old people always declare that old 
times were better than the times that now are. As a general 
thing the truth is the other way. New things are better than 
ihe old, and the world is advancing. 

If I had time to sho^v the condition of the common people 
in Europe and all over the civilized world, one hundred years 
ago, and contrast it with their condition at the present time, 
the contrast would be startling. 

Yet the leaders of our Revolution, the founders of our 
Republic, were noble men. Washington, the Lees, Henry, 
Jefferson, Franklin, Jay, Livingston the Adams and their noble 
compeers, were worthy to be the founders of a great nation, 
and are well entitled to the respect and veneration of their 
descendants. 

But' while we render due honor to the men of 1776, let us be 
careful not to depreciate the men of 1876. 

" America, with all thy faults, I love thee still." 

With all their faults, I believe the present generation of liv- 
ing Americans are worthy of their noble ancestors. They have 
passed through the ordeal of fire, and their qualities have been 
tried by the severest tests, and in the hour of trial they were 
not found wanting. 

xVt the time the great Rebellion broke out we had been at 
peace for nearly half a century. To be sure there had been 
the "war with Mexico in 1846, but in that case the army was 
mainly composed of adventurers from the Southern States ; 
and the battle-fields were so far away from the Northern states, 
and indeed the causes of that w^ar did not commend it to the 
conscience of the nation, that the great heart of the North was 
not stirred by that contest. Since the battle of Plattsburgh 
the hills and valleys of old Washington had not resounded 
with the strains of martial music, calling her sons to the battle, 
field in defence of their country. The military spirit had 
apparently died out among us, and many feared that patriot- 
ism was also dead. That the long peace, the growing riches 
and luxury of our people, and their absorption in the intense 



XIV APPENDIX. 

devotion to the cause of money-making, liarl eradicated the 
more manly virtues upon which a nation must depend for its 
defence in its hour of peril, but their fears proved groundless. 

For when traitorous and parricidal hands were raised to 
strike at the very life of the nation, and the cry resounded 
through tlie laud that the Republic was in danger, the people 
of the North sprang to arms and marched to the defence of 
their country. The great uprising of the North after the 
a*ltack on Fort Sumpter, was one of the most striking and 
dramatic scenes in history. Nor was it a mere ephemeral 
excitement. In the beginning we did not appreciate the magni- 
tude of the contest nor the enormous dimensions which it was 
destined to assume. It ultimately developed into the mightiest 
civil war which the world ever saw. The government at one 
time had more than a million armed men in the field. The strug- 
gle was tremendous. But the courage, the endurance, the pat- 
riotism of the friends of Liberty and Union, withstood the 
tremendous strain, and ultimatel}^ the good cause triumphed. 

As I have said, it is the natural tendency of human .nature 
to exaggerate the past and the distant, in comparison with the 
present and familiar. 

I used to think that the heroes of the Revolution, the men 
who fought at Bunker Hill and on other battle-fields of that 
war were somehow greater and different from the men of 
to-day whom I see around me daily engaged in the ordinary 
avocations of peaceful life. 

But when the hour of trial c^me, those times that test the 
heroic quality of nations, the sons proved worthy of their sires. 

We saw our cotemporaries, our acquaintances, our neighbors, 
our friends and some of us, those who were near and dear to 
us by the ties of blood and kindred, wholly unacquainted with 
the arts of war and familiar only with the avocations of peace, 
leaving their homes and all that was near and dear to them, 
and impelled by as pure a patriotism as stirred the blood of 
our patriot sires, daring the dangers and terrors of a terrific war, 
at the call of their country in its hour of danger, march to its 
defence. 

They came from every occupation in life, the farmer from 
his fields, the mechanic from his work-shop, the collegian from 



APPENDIX. XV 

the quiet shades of his alma mater, the clerk from his counter, 
and somelimes even the school boy from his books. 

I know it is difficult for us to conceive and realize that we 
have heroes among us, mingling and associating with us in our 
daily lives. 

But when on that early September midnight in 1862, one 
thousand of the young men of old Washington took the cars 
and moved on into the darkness on their way to the scenes of 
war, they were as truly heroic as our ancestors who fought at 
Bennington or Saratoga, or those who in the days of chivalry 
and the crusades, marched to the Holy Land to rescue the 
Holy Sepulchre from the hands of the infidel. 

it was in one of the darkest hours of the war. The splendid 
army of McClellan had been hurled back from the Peninsula, 
and Lee, flushed with success was pressing; forward toward the 
national capital. 

The other sons of our county who fought in other regiments 
in the war, did their duty faithfully and are entitled to equal 
honor. On the battle-fields of the war our soldiers upheld the 
honor of our county's venerated name. 

Yes, fellow-citizens, those who fought in the great war of 
the rebellion, are entitled to equal honors with those who 
fouglit to establish our independence. 

But on this great national jubilee, on this joyous occasion, 
let us not forget to give due honor to those who gave the last 
full measure of devotion to their country's cause, who offered 
up their young lives a willing sacrifice in the cause of liberty 
and union, died that the republic might live. They peacefully 
rest beneath their native soil in every cemetery and grave-yard 
of the North. Others, less fortunately for their friends, lie 
beneath a southern sky. 

" Speak softly, tread lightly, he has gone to his grave ; 
He died for his country, his country to save " 

Fellow-citizens and friends :— It is not the language of patri 
otic boasting, but it is the language of sober sense and simple 
truth when I say that upon this occlusion, the commencement 
of the second century of our existence as a nation, the Ameri- 
can people have greater cause for congratulation and thank- 
fulness than any people on the face of the earth. 



XVI APPENDIX. 

Our physical blessings are abundant. We have the- most 
magnificent empire on tlie face of the globe, extending from 
ocean to ocean, from the St. Lawrence, the great lakes, the 
cold regions of Canada and, the Arctic ocean on the north, to 
almost the tropics on the south, embracing almost every 
quality of soil, climate and production, with the richest mines 
of coal, iron, gold, silver and other minerals, and capable oj 
supporting a population of hundreds of millions, with a pop- 
ulation now of about 44,000,000 of inhabitants, and increasing 
at a rate which will soon place us at the head of the civilized 
nations of the earth ; with religion free and untrammelled, 
with liberty to every man to worship God according to the 
dictates of his own conscience, with equal rights to all, with 
suffrage, the great prerogative of freemen common to all, 
with the right to every citizen to aspire to any ofHce in the 
nation 

Life, liberty, person and property are protected. We are at 
peace with all nations and I think we may reasonably.look for- 
ward in the future to long years of exemption from that 
greatest of all curses, war. War is a terrible curse and should 
never_be resorted to except in a case of extreme necessity. 

But we have become so pt)wcrful and so situated, that it 
does not seem that war can become necessary. No power in 
this continent will dare to go to war with us. No European 
power will desire to do so, and if war with any of them should 
arise, it would be merely a naval w^ar. 

We are honored and respected throughout the world. 

As an illustration of our position among the nations look at 
that great internatiomil exposition or exhibition now being held 
at Philadelphia, the city of the Declaration. Several of these 
have heretofore been held in three of the great capitals of 
Europe, London, Paris and Vienna. But the one now holding 
in "this country is the largest, the finest and the best of those 
that have been held. . 

All the most important nations of the earth have honored it 
by their presence, and have there met in a friendlj^ rivalry to 
exhibit their natural productions and the results of their 
industry and skill. 

And I will here say, that a Greenwich boy at the opening 
ceremonies of that display, occupied a prominent position, and 



APPETsTDIX. XVII 

the name of Corlm, was as conspicuous as that of Grant or 
Dom Pedro, 

Fellow-citizens:— I am aware that it is not all sunshine with 
us. We are laboring under business depression. There are 
other evils that afflict our land. To be sure we need never 
expect in this world to be wholly exempt from sorrow and 
trials, but most of the evils which now specially affect us, are 
like the heaving of the waves of the ocean after the tempest 
has passed over it, but gradually the ocean will subside into 
peace, the clouds which now cast their shade upon us will pass 
away, and our sky will be bright and serene. 1 have no fear of 
the future. The horizon is tinged with gold and the future is 
full of promise. 

But I must close with a few words. 

We have great blessings, we have a noble heritage, but we 
have corresponding duties. I have no time to enlarge upon 
this topic, but in the noble language of that mart^^r President, 
Abraham -Lincoln, in that wonderful speech made at the dedi- 
cation of the Geltysburgh cemetery, in some respects the most 
remarkable in tlie English language and worthy of a Hebrew, 
prophet, " Let us here highly resolve that the dead shall not 
have died in vain ; that the nation under God shall have a new 
birth of freedom, and that governments of the people, by the 
people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth. " 

Yes ! Let us preserve unimpaired, the noble heritage which 
has been bequeathed to us ; which was won by the blood of 
our forefathers, which has been preserved by the blood, the 
treasure and the sacrifices of the' present generation, and let us 
transmit it unimpaired, beautified, glorified, to our children. 



